Romans also decorated their houses with gr eenery. Hadrian is set among foliage, ivy, holly (sacred to Saturn), images of the god Saturn, candles and terracotta figurines ( sigillaria). Hadrian is wearing the pilleum, as was the tradition during the festival. These pointy hats were traditionally worn by freedmen but during Saturnalia, all men, regardless of status, wore the pilleum. To celebrate the festive season in style, I made my own Saturnalia shrine. … Were you here, I would willingly confer with you as to the plan of our conduct whether we should eve in our usual way, or, to avoid singularity, both take a better supper and throw off the toga“ (Seneca, “Letters“) Loose reins are given to public dissipation everywhere you may hear the sound of great preparations, as if there were some real difference between the days devoted to Saturn and those for transacting business. “It is now the month of December, when the greatest part of the city is in a bustle.
It was followed by several days of feasting and fun. After the rituals, the celebrants shouted ‘Io, Saturnalia’ (Macrobius I.10.18). The holiday began with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn. The Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum, Rome The poet Catullus called it “the best of days” – Saturnalibus, optimo dierum!. It originated as a farmer’s festival to mark the end of the autumn planting season in honour of Saturnus and despite Livy’s claim that the festival was established in 496 BC, there is evidence it began much earlier. Today, December 17, marks the beginning of the Saturnalia, a festival held in honour of Saturn that lasted for between 3 and 7 days.