18th December: Saturnalia

In ancient Rome on this date, the festival of Saturnalia would have been in full swing. Although the main festival was on December 17, the holiday gradually got longer until it lasted a whole week, and the second day, today, was still a public holiday. A bit like Christmas extending up until the New Year. In fact, many scholars describe the festival as being a forerunner to Christmas and the origin of many traditions we continue to this day. When Rome became Christian, even though Saturnalia was a pagan festival, there would have been an outcry if they'd banned it - just as if someone declared that Christmas was to be cancelled today. So Christmas came to be celebrated at around the same time.

1. Eating, drinking and being merry was a feature of Saturnalia, with families getting together for banquets.
2. Gift giving was another feature and thought to be the origin of widespread gift giving at this time of year. Children got toys; adults would give each other all sorts of gifts. Some could be expensive, like a slave or an exotic pet, but usually they were token gifts. The kinds of things given included pottery or wax figurines, writing tablets, Dice, knucklebones, moneyboxes, combs, toothpicks, a hat, a hunting knife, an axe, lamps, balls, perfumes, pipes, a Pig, a sausage, a parrot, tables, cups, spoons, items of clothing, masks and books.
3. The gifts they gave were often accompanied by verses, thought by some scholars to be the origin of greeting cards.
4. Roman men set aside their togas and donned colourful Greek dinner clothes, which would be seen as bad taste at any other time of year. Rather like the outrageous Christmas jumpers of today!
5. As we greet each other with "Merry Christmas!" The Romans had a greeting for Saturnalia: "Io Saturnalia!"
6. It was common to decorate doors and windows with greenery, rather like Christmas wreaths today. Trees were decorated, but they were not cut down and brought indoors. They were decorated where they grew, with sun and star symbols and the faces of the god Janus.
7. Being close to the Winter Solstice, candles were often lit to symbolise the returning of the Sun's power. Not unlike Advent candles today.
8. While most citizens enjoyed themselves and called the festival "the best of days," There were also a few party poopers like Pliny, who would hide in his secluded rooms and carry on working, well away from the noise and festivities.
9. Role reversal was a common practice. Slaves would enjoy a banquet and be served by their masters. Sometimes, someone would be elected "king of Saturnalia", by lot, and everyone would have to do anything this person told them to do. They might have to sing naked or jump into cold water.
10. It was a joyful time, but it had its darker side. As well as being a god of prosperity, Saturn was connected with war and the underworld. At one time, there were gladiator contests at Saturnalia and the defeated gladiators were offered as human sacrifices to Saturn. The "king of Saturnalia" originally would have been killed as a sacrifice at the end of the holiday.

My Christmas Novella!

A Very Variant Christmas

Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.

The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.

Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.

Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.

Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.

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