Ah yes! The highly extolled Reason for the Season! It's balance, of course, but that is hard to see during the things we often do at this time of year. From the Julian calendar date of December 17 to December 23, slaves and masters would change roles, leaders and followers would step into each other's shoes, freedom of expression would take the forefront, children were given a lot of freedom, and revelry and mirth were foremost on everyone's agenda. Such was the winter holiday season in Rome, until about the fourth century, when festivities were required to calm down, in order to preserve the assets and positions of those whose rule was protected by christian clergy.
Saturn is usually not represented by dancing and debauchery. He is primarily a God of order. Legend has it that during the Golden Age, under Saturnalian rule, men were more equal to one another and were required to work together effectively in order to achieve results anywhere, and role reversals were celebrated during Saturnalia to remind everyone of this. Our Ancestors were truly ingenious at times; not only did they cure seasonal affective disorder with a festival of lights, they made a fun and irresistible party out of an important lesson about balance in life. So why would we celebrate Him with role reversals and massive, albeit temporary, upheavals? Obviously, human relationships were known to stagnate, and such reversals were almost a guaranteed cure for everything from the winter blues to complacency about necessary change.
Gifts were also given during this celebration. Fun items and gag gifts were traditional, children were given toys, and; of course, food was always a favorite. Could modern Christmas possibly, ahem, be a carryover?
So there you have it! Balance is the reason for the season! Io Saturnalia!
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