How to Celebrate Saturnalia

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Wear the colors of the holiday.

   These are blue and gold.
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   Step 2: Decorate over doorways

   Garlands or wreaths are ideal.
   
   Add golden cutouts of the sun or golden pinecones, nuts, acorns. , In Roman times, trees were not brought indoors but were decorated where they grew.
   
   It is also possible to decorate living plants in pots. , You can make your own cookie cutters if you're keen! Use green and/or gold food colors or sprinkles. ,, This is pronounced "eeyo sa-tur-NAL-ee-uh". , Saturnalia is a joyous holiday and Romans shared it with friends and family. , Attach a clever note or a short witty poem to your gifts.
   
   Read the Roman poet Martial ("Xenia" and "Apophoreta") for some authentic examples from Roman times. , Safely light a candle there.
   
   Display and decorate a statue of Saturnus, if you have one, or a photo of a statue or painting of him. , Saturnalia was a type of opposite-day in which slaves could enjoy luxury alongside their masters.
   
   You may want to wear a pileus, a conical felt cap that in the classical world represented freedom.
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   Step 3: windows and even stairs with greenery.

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   Step 4: If you have living trees on your own property

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   Step 5: hang them with sun symbols

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   Step 6: and faces of the God Janus (who watches over the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one).

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   Step 7: Make cookies in the shapes of fertility symbols

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   Step 8: suns and moons and stars

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   Step 9: and herd animal shapes.

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    Step 10: If you are of legal drinking age where you live

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    Step 11: make some mulsum

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    Step 12: a drink of wine and honey.

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    Step 13: Greet people with the traditional cry of "Io

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    Step 14: Saturnalia!"

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    Step 15: Invite your friends for a feast and a party on December 17th.

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    Step 16: Give small presents

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    Step 17: including presents of food or sweets

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    Step 18: or candles or lamps.

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    Step 19: If you have a lararium

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    Step 20: make sure it is clean.

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    Step 21: Celebrate freedom and destroy hierarchies.

Detailed Guide

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