Dan Snow's History Hit: Episode Summary – "Roman Saturnalia"

Release Date: December 4, 2024

In the December 4, 2024 episode of Dan Snow's History Hit titled "Roman Saturnalia," host Dan Snow delves into the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, exploring its origins, practices, and enduring influence on modern Christmas celebrations. Joined by Mayte Gomez Rejon, the English Heritage Collection curator for Hadrian's Wall, Snow unpacks how Saturnalia's traditions have woven into the fabric of contemporary holiday customs.

1. December Traditions and the Spirit of Midwinter

As December ushers in festive decorations and a sense of communal warmth despite the cold, Dan Snow sets the stage for his exploration of Christmas origins, deliberately steering away from its religious aspects to focus on the secular traditions that prevail today. He emphasizes the human inclination to maintain cherished traditions, referencing historical celebrations like the Romans' Saturnalia, the Vikings' Yuletide, and Christian festivities marking Jesus's birth.

Dan Snow [00:59]: "Humans for millennia seem to have drawn comfort from doing familiar things. From the Romans honoring Saturn with gift giving... Each generation has inherited the traditions of those who have gone before."

2. The Origins of Saturnalia

Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival honoring Saturn, the God of farming and harvest. Celebrated during the winter solstice—the shortest day of the year—it symbolized the rebirth of the sun and the promise of longer, warmer days, aligning with agrarian hopes for fruitful agriculture.

Mayte Gomez Rejon [07:36]: "So Saturn was the God of seed sowing... and his period of reign was really seen as this golden age of prosperity."

The festival initially commenced on December 17th and, by the late Republic (1st century BC), expanded to a multi-day celebration lasting until December 23rd. Saturnalia coincided with other local British winter festivals, facilitating a blend of Roman and indigenous traditions as the Romans integrated into Britannia.

3. Saturnalia Practices and Social Customs

Saturnalia was renowned for its exuberant celebrations that contrasted sharply with the rigid hierarchical structure of Roman society. Key practices included:

• Social Inversion: Hierarchical norms were temporarily upended. Slaves were granted freedoms, could dine with their masters, and were sometimes appointed as mock kings of the festivities.

  Mayte Gomez Rejon [11:05]: "Roman society is very hierarchical... with Saturnalia, each household would choose a mock king who would preside over the festivities, often someone from the lowest part of the family."

• Feasting and Public Revelry: Festivities included lavish feasts, public gambling (normally prohibited), exuberant street celebrations, and a carnival-like atmosphere where merriment was encouraged.

  Dan Snow [12:32]: "There's something about this time of year, isn't it, with the feasting... Did the Romans just feast all the time on their religious holidays, or was there something particular about Saturnalia?"

• Gift-Giving: Gifts ranged from extravagant to modest tokens, reflecting the quality of friendships rather than monetary value. Marshall, a 1st-century AD poet, noted that simple gifts like toothpicks or small figurines often held more sentimental value.

  Mayte Gomez Rejon [16:48]: "He suggests that token gifts of sort of a lower value might actually be more well received and measure better the higher quality of a friendship."

4. Saturnalia's Integration into Roman Britain

As the Romans established their presence in Britain, Saturnalia merged with local pagan traditions, fostering a syncretic cultural landscape. This integration involved associating Roman deities with indigenous gods, such as linking Minerva with Sulis at the thermal springs in Bath, and merging Jupiter with the Celtic sky god.

Dan Snow [09:55]: "The Romans found a political patchwork... They recognized these strong pagan beliefs, and they found ways to blend them with the Roman way of life."

The festival's inclusive and joyous nature provided a fertile ground for cultural assimilation, allowing Roman and British traditions to coexist and influence each other.

5. The Influence of Saturnalia on Modern Christmas

The episode extensively explores how Saturnalia's traditions have subtly permeated modern Christmas customs. While Christmas adopts a distinct religious significance, many secular practices echo Saturnalian roots:

• Evergreen Decorations: Both Saturnalia and Christmas feature evergreens like mistletoe and holly, symbolizing eternal life and resilience during winter.

  Mayte Gomez Rejon [10:51]: "In Saturnalia, you lit wax tapers and torches because you're bringing light into the dark that is Midwinter. We do that now."

• Gift-Giving: The tradition of exchanging gifts during Saturnalia has clear parallels with contemporary Christmas gift exchanges, emphasizing generosity and personal connections.

• Festive Feasting and Public Celebrations: The communal feasting and public merriment of Saturnalia mirror modern holiday gatherings and public festivities.

Furthermore, the selection of December 25th as Christmas Day aligns with the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun, rather than directly with Saturnalia. This strategic dating likely facilitated the adoption of Christian traditions by aligning them with existing pagan celebrations, easing the transition for converts.

Mayte Gomez Rejon [23:59]: "So the fact that it's the 25th of December and there's a link to Sol... it's another way of the Church sort of trying to link in with previous celebrations."

6. The Transition from Pagan Festivals to Christianity

As Christianity gained prominence within the Roman Empire, the Church sought to integrate and repurpose existing pagan festivals to foster broader acceptance. Saturnalia's joyous and communal spirit provided a foundation upon which Christian Christmas could build, preserving familiar traditions while infusing new religious meaning.

Dan Snow [22:18]: "How should we think about Saturnalia and its impact on our midwinter, our Christmas holiday traditions?"

Mayte Gomez Rejon [22:32]: "You can see that a lot of the traditions of the activities that you did in Saturnalia would link to Christmas."

The episode highlights that while the religious underpinnings shifted, the essence of celebrating light, generosity, and community endures from Saturnalia to modern Christmas.

7. Conclusion and Series Outlook

Dan Snow wraps up the episode by acknowledging the enduring legacy of Saturnalia within the tapestry of modern winter celebrations. He hints at upcoming discussions in the series that will trace Christmas's evolution through various historical epochs, including insights into the Tudor era's lavish festivities and the Germanic influences shaping today's traditions.

Dan Snow [25:21]: "We're going to get into Yule, folks, and how people through the ages have survived the darkest months in Britain... We're going to hit that later in the series."

Key Takeaways

• Saturnalia was a multifaceted Roman festival celebrating the God Saturn, characterized by social inversion, feasting, and gift-giving.
• The festival's timing with the winter solstice emphasized themes of renewal and hope for future prosperity.
• Social customs during Saturnalia, such as role reversals and public revelry, provided a temporary relief from societal hierarchies.
• Saturnalia's traditions have influenced modern Christmas practices, particularly in areas like decoration, gift-giving, and communal celebrations.
• The strategic alignment of Christmas with existing pagan festivals like Saturnalia and Sol Invictus facilitated the integration of Christian traditions into established cultural practices.

Dan Snow's exploration of Saturnalia not only illuminates the rich history behind our current holiday customs but also underscores the enduring human desire to find light and joy during the darkest days of the year.