#Io saturnalia meme tv#

(Quick clarification: early celebrations of Saturnalia did feature human sacrifice, so let’s just leave that bit out and instead wear the pointy hats and sing naked, okay? Io Saturnalia, everybody.)Ģ. The king was basically the head idiot who delivered absurd commands to everyone there, like, “Sing naked!” or “run around screaming for an hour,” or “slap your butt cheeks real hard in front of your crush DO IT, Brutus.” Partygoers also crowned a King of Saturnalia, which was a predecessor to the King of Fools popular in medieval festivals. Historians have records of people giving each other some truly impressive white elephant gifts for Saturnalia, including: a parrot, balls, toothpicks, a pig, one single sausage, spoons, and deliberately awful books of poetry. The most famous part (besides getting drunk off your rocker) was gift-giving–usually gag gifts. Gambling was allowed on Saturnalia, so all of Rome basically turned into ancient Vegas, complete with Caesar’s Palace, except with the actual Caesar and his palace because he was, you know. Everyone wore a coned hat called the pilleusto denote that they were all bros and equal, and also to disguise the fact that they hadn’t brushed their hair after partying hard all week, probably. As the name suggests, it celebrated the god Saturn, who represented wealth and liberty and generally having a great time.Ībove: Their party is way cooler than yours could ever hope to be.ĭuring Saturnalia, masters would serve their slaves, because it was the one day during the year when everybody agreed that freedom for all is great, actually, let’s just do that. Saturnalia was the ancient Roman winter festival held on December 25th–which is why we celebrate Christmas on that day and not on the day historians speculate Jesus was actually born, which was probably in the spring. Etc etc.Here comes Santa Claus, and also a bunch of annual holiday Things we do to ensure he commits a truly boggling act of breaking and entering and leaves goods underneath the large plant in the living room.īecause I’ve always got a hankerin’ for the days of yore, here are some historical holiday traditions we really need to bring back:ġ. ( Disclaimer: The above should not be taken as evidence of adherence to any personal religion, discipline or belief system.

#Io saturnalia meme tv#

What’s your favorite fictional holiday TV special? What’s your favorite holiday TV special?Ģ2.

What was the best present you ever got for Christmas?Ģ1. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?Ģ0. Not being able (without consequences) to run down the street shrieking “Io Saturnalia!” and insisting that major public officials swap jobs with me for the day.ġ9. Probably a good thing I can’t find it around here. That ribbon candy, though, I really like that. Do you know all the words to Jingle Bells? In what languages can you wish someone a Merry Christmas (without cheating)?ġ5. Sometimes, usually ones from Festive Classics: Holiday Baking in the Swiss, German and Austrian Traditions.ġ4. What is your favorite Christmas story/movie?ĩ. Do you like receiving Christmas letters/photos?Ĩ. Do you decorate your house with lights?ħ. Optional alternative: Gluhwein (see this video for one of the best places to see it made.)ĥ. And only one possible recipe, the one passed to me by the divine Miss S. Eggnog, mulled cider, or hot chocolate?Įggnog. Do you have a cut tree, live tree or an artificial tree?Ĥ.

I will have my revenge.ġ.What is your favorite Christmas carol/song?ģ. You didn’t disguise your identity as thoroughly as you may think you did.