It was license within careful boundaries it reversed the social order without subverting it. Yet the reversal of the social order was mostly superficial the banquet, for example, would often be prepared by the slaves, and they would prepare their masters’ dinner as well. The slaves celebrated a banquet: before, with, or served by the masters. Slaves were exempt from punishment, and treated their masters with disrespect. colorful, informal “dinner clothes” and the pileus (freedman’s hat) was worn by everyone. The toga was not worn, but rather the synthesis, i.e. It was a time to eat, drink, and be merry. Gambling was allowed for all, even slaves however, although it was officially condoned only during this period, one should not assume that it was rare or much remarked upon during the rest of the year. The celebrations included a school holiday, the making and giving of small presents (saturnalia et sigillaricia) and a special market (sigillaria). Besides the public rites there were a series of holidays and customs celebrated privately. It involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch (lectisternium) set out in front of the temple of Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound the statue of Saturn during the rest of the year.Ī Saturnalicius princeps was elected master of ceremonies for the proceedings. The Saturnalia was originally celebrated in Ancient Rome for only a day, but it was so popular that soon it lasted a week, despite Augustus’ efforts to reduce it to three days, and Caligula’s, to five. The Saturnalia was a large and important public festival in Rome. It was marked by tomfoolery and reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters ostensibly switched places. Saturnalia became one of the most popular Roman festivals. Over the years, it expanded to a whole week, to 23 December. Saturnalia is the feast with which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn, which was on 17 December. Except during Saturnalia, in which the social roles were switched, the rich Romans used to have attentive and servile employees
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