Instant Classics A Very Merry Saturnalia to You
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Dec 25, 2025 Dive into the raucous festival of Saturnalia, where the Romans flipped societal roles, serving dessert to their slaves instead of the other way around. Uncover the darker side of gift-giving, revealing presents like enslaved people alongside food and socks. Hear about the infamous rivalry during Saturnalia when Nero humiliated his brother Britannicus. Explore surprising connections—and differences—between Saturnalia and modern Christmas traditions, debunking myths along the way. It’s a fascinating mix of revelry and grim history.
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Domestic Festival Of Reversal
- Saturnalia was a domestic, week-long Roman festival that overturned social hierarchies and centred on home feasting.
- Masters sometimes served slaves, creating a controlled reversal that reinforced, not dissolved, social order.
Martial's Gift Tags Reveal Roman Gifts
- Martial's gift-epigrams reveal Saturnalia gift culture with items familiar and bizarre to modern eyes.
- The poems illuminate Roman social tastes and the festival's material culture.
Slaves Given As Presents
- Martial's presents include toiletries, socks, wine, books—and disturbingly, slaves as gifts.
- Mary Beard notes emperors even gave slaves away as party or going-away presents.