Saturnalia is Here!
This year, Saturnalia runs from December 17th through the 22nd. The festival will open on December 17th with a feast at the lovely domus of Julilla Sempronius on the Palatine! Pick up your invitation here.
Heraklia Aelius is giving a grand Saturnalia Bash as a housewarming for her own lovely palace on the Esquiline. (The date and time will be announced soon.)
The Domus Depot is sponsoring the Scintillating Saturnalia Decorating Contest. Anybody from any of the AW worlds may participate, as long as the nominated residence is located in any Roman 'hood. Check out the complete list of the contest rules here!!!
Keep in mind that the main criteria for judging are:
- (a) Is it gorgeous?
- (b) Is it seasonal (i.e., Saturnalia)?
- (c) Does it teach us something about ancient Saturnalia, Rome, the 'hood it's in, or something else neat?
- (d) Does it make us laugh, or show creativity and fun?
Domus Depot also is sponsoring a gift shop, under the proprietorship of Livia Servilius. Ye Olde Gift Shoppe is open for business and is ready to purvey fine array of gifts for suitable for all the worlds of AW.
There will be a plethora of other events, including a coin identification quiz, a topiary decorating contest, a Saturn quiz, a writing contest (with a "winter solstice holiday" theme?so start composing your story NOW!), and at least two guessing games?one called "Consul, Emperor, or Not?" and one with a seasonal song lyrics theme.
So reserve these dates: December 17th through the 22nd!!!
History of Saturnalia
by Lucius Aelius Stilo
By the beginning of December, writes Columella, the farmer should have finished his autumn planting. Now, at the time of the winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian calendar), Saturnus, the god of seed and sowing, was honored with a festival. The Saturnalia officially was celebrated on December 17 (a.d. XVI Kal. Ian.), midway between two other agricultural festivals: the Consualia, which celebrated the opening of the granaries and was in honor of Consus, god of the granary, and the Opalia, honoring Ops, who personified abundance and the fruits of the earth, and was the consort of Saturn. [More...]
