saturnalia etymology

Etymology and Origin

  • Latin: Saturnalia
  • From: Saturnus, the Roman god of agriculture and time

Meaning

  • Festival of Saturn: A Roman holiday honoring the god Saturn, celebrated annually from December 17-23.

History and Significance

  • The Saturnalia was a period of merrymaking, feasting, and revelry.
  • Social norms were relaxed, and slaves could experience freedom and equality during the holiday.
  • The festival featured public banquets, gift-giving, and games.
  • The celebration included the election of a "King of Saturnalia," who presided over the festivities.
  • The Saturnalia was a time of renewal and purification, symbolizing the end of the agricultural year and the birth of the new year.

Derived Forms

  • Saturnalian: Pertaining to or resembling the Saturnalia (ex: Saturnalian revelry)
  • Saturnine: Melancholy or gloomy (influenced by the supposed melancholic nature of Saturn)

saturnalia relate terms

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    Etymology The name Saturn derives from the Latin word Saturnus which is thought to have

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    Etymology The word riot derives from the Old French word riote meaning revelry upr

  • lever

    Etymology The word lever comes from the Old French word leveur which is derived fro

  • revel

    Etymology The word revel comes from the Anglo French word revel which in turn comes

  • festival

    Etymology and Meaning of Festival The word festival originates from two Latin words

  • stoke

    Etymology The word stoke has its origins in two Old English words stocian verb

  • pilgrim

    Etymology The word pilgrim comes from the Old French word pelegrin which itself ori

  • Logos

    Etymology The word logos comes from the Ancient Greek word λόγος lógos meani

  • catharsis

    Etymology Greek κάθαρσις katharsis meaning purification cleansing Me