Saturnalia is recreated in the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida
Over the next few days, visitors at the museum will recreate this tradition in honour of light just as the Romans did at the end of December. The tradition brings together both religion and celebrations and was the premise of the Christian Christmas.
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A light and a crown for the religious rituals. These are the objects that the visitors will receive from the National Museum of Roman Art in MéridaNational Museum of Roman Art in Mérida during the days celebrating Saturnalia. The nights shorten and daylight hours increase.
In the Roman streets recreated in the main nave of the museum, processions are held as well as celebrations for Sol Invictus Day, when the Sun is born on 25th December. Afterwards Mitra is born, and nowadays, it is the birth of Jesus that is celebrated.
The Romans believed that Saturn taught them to farm and with the beginning of the winter solstice, work in the countryside ended which allowed them to rest. This meant that banquets were held in their homes with family and friends, which is reminiscent of what we do today. On the table there were cured meats, cheese, honey, nuts, and "mulsum", a spiced and tenderised wine that was the feature of the party.
During Saturalia, the slaves could behave like gentleman and the gentleman like slaves. They were allowed to bet and did not have to adhere to social norms. It was declared a time for celebration because, as the museum's curator Pilar Caldera explains, they were celebrating the end of the darkest days: "wishing peace and love to everyone is what have in common with those who lived a thousand years ago".
