Albert's Christmas Journey 🎄 1st Letter
Saturnia - A Winter’s Night in Ancient Rome
My dear friend from the future,
For a while now, I have been traveling through time, witnessing the most fascinating stories in history and sharing my experiences. This month, I embark on a unique journey - a Christmas adventure! Every week, I’ll visit a moment in time that influences how we celebrate today.
As I write these lines, I find myself again in the streets of ancient Rome. It is the 23rd of December in the year 200 BC. While the sun has already set hours ago, the whole city is alive, celebrating Saturnia—the festival of light, abundance, and community.
This celebration, dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, takes place each December during the shortest days of the year. It honors Saturn's role as a provider and protector. The festival of light welcomes the hope of brighter days ahead.
Saturnalia was first celebrated in the days of Rome's early kings, perhaps as early as 500 BC. The celebration I am witnessing has already become one of the most cherished festivals in the Roman calendar. Initially, it was a single day of festivities on the 17th of December, but as the years passed, the festival expanded into a week-long event, running until the 23rd of December.
The roots of Saturnalia lie in the agricultural cycle, particularly the end of the autumn sowing season. Romans thank Saturn for the harvest and pray for his blessings. Saturn once ruled during a mythical Golden Age, a time of perfect harmony, prosperity, and equality, and Saturnalia seeks to recapture that spirit. During this week, the usual rules of Roman society are upside down: slaves dine as equals with their masters, and work makes way for feasting, gift-giving, and laughter.
The streets are alive with the cry of "Io Saturnalia!" a cheerful greeting from revelers. Everywhere, I see the marks of celebration:
Evergreen garlands draped over doorways
Candles illuminating the dark winter nights
Tables overflowing with food and drink
At the heart of it all is the day of gift-giving. The Romans exchanged small tokens of appreciation—wax candles, clay figurines, and other simple but meaningful items.
As I observe this vibrant festival, it's striking how much the spirit of Saturnalia lives on in the Christmas celebrations of your time. The evergreen decorations, the exchange of gifts, and the joyous feasts are all rooted in these ancient Roman customs. Even the timing and feeling of the festival mirrors the spirit of Christmas as a celebration of light and hope in the darkest part of the year.
But Saturnalia also offers lessons that I feel are relevant for the people in your time. It reminds us that the heart of any celebration lies not in lavish displays but in shared humanity. By overturning the norms of society, Saturnalia encourages people to see one another not as superiors or inferiors but as equals. It is a time to embrace kindness, generosity, and connection—values that transcend centuries and cultures. It is not about receiving as many gifts as possible but showing appreciation through small tokens.
As you prepare for Christmas this year, consider what you might borrow from Saturnalia. Could you simplify your celebrations to focus on the joy of togetherness? Could you set aside time to reflect on what unites us rather than what divides us?
Or maybe light a candle and imagine how the streets of ancient Rome were lit up with thousands of them over 2,000 years ago. Bring a slight shimmer of Rome into your living room🕯️
As the night grows late here in Rome, the festival continues with laughter and music echoing through the streets. As I extinguish my candle and prepare to rest for my next journey, I carry the lessons of Saturnalia and hope they inspire your Christmas celebration this year.
🧳
Until next time,
Albert
Your time-traveling uncle