— SACRED TIME —

Saturnalia

December 17–23 · Religio Romana · Paganism of antiquity

Fixed date

Esoteric and historical meaning

Return to the golden age of Saturn: hierarchies are overturned, slaves sit at the table, a king of the feast commands the absurd. Model for every carnival.

Operative mechanics — ritual acts

·Loosening of the bonds of the statue of Saturn.
·Election of the Saturnalicius princeps and obedience to his burlesque orders.
·Exchange of gifts (sigillaria) and candles (cerei).

Traditional foods

·Night banquet
·Honey sweets
·Wine without measure

Offerings

·Wax candles to Saturn
·Focaccia on the domestic altar

Taboos to respect

·No work, no trials, no wars
·Do not refuse the reversal of roles

Associated symbols

Sickle of Saturn · Pileus · Candles · Dice

Note for paradigm shifting

Archetype of the social paradigm shift: the ordered chaos that regenerates the structure.