Forget Christmas. Heres Saturnalia
Chester started as a Roman town. It was established in 79 AD as a “castrum” or Roman fort with the name Deva Victrix by the Emperor Vespasian. It would go on to turn into one of the primary Roman cities in Britain and, to this day, the town still hosts lots of Roman structures and artifacts. Given, a lot of European cities share a comparable heritage. However Chester takes it to the next level.
Most towns in Europe have some form of Christmas decors. Some even have parades or special events. In the English town of Chester, things are a bit different.
Image credits: Gareth Williams.
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman celebration in honor of the divine being Saturn, held around the Winter Solstice. It was among the a number of pre-Christian celebrations around what we now call Christmas time. Throughout Saturnalia, Romans celebrated Saturn, the Roman god of farming and harvest. This was one of the ancient empires most popular events.
Every Christmas, the towns streets are filled with the familiar sights of a Roman parade. In truth, the town recreates the sights, sounds and smells that would have marked Saturnalia in Deva Victrix.
It included present providing, extreme consuming and drinking, and a relaxation of the rules. If you believe thats similar to present Christmas, its not a coincidence: Christmas took a great deal of custom-mades from Saturnalia. It likewise involved a carnival atmosphere and constant partying for around a week– and thats what the town of Chester is opting for.
” The Saturnalia parade joins forces with the Winter Watch parade taking the city from the 1400s back to its Roman profession in 47/48 ADVERTISEMENT,” the citys town revealed. The occasions will feature a Roman Legion parade. The legion will march through the city with flaming torches whilst the Emperor will make his speech to validate Roman guideline. He will say:
Its an unique celebration that enables the town to keep in touch with its Roman roots, states Dr. Caroline Pudney, a senior archaeology lecturer at the University of Chester. She stated that for Chester, keeping Saturnalia is about “keeping a sense of tradition and bringing the past to life”.
“Soldiers here in Chester would likely have honoured the Saturnalia and especially welcomed the reality that it would have managed them some day of rests,” she said.
” Let none of you be mistaken, the Romans are still here, at specific times of the year you will see us marching when more through our fortress. I am a sword that sings in the dark. I am the noise of a legion marching to war.
So, would you say yes to restoring the Roman heritage of Saturnalia or should we simply adhere to Christmas?
Chester started as a Roman town. It would go on to become one of the primary Roman cities in Britain and, to this day, the town still hosts numerous Roman structures and artifacts. Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held around the Winter Solstice. Throughout Saturnalia, Romans celebrated Saturn, the Roman god of farming and harvest.” The Saturnalia parade joins forces with the Winter Watch parade taking the city from the 1400s back to its Roman occupation in 47/48 ADVERTISEMENT,” the citys town revealed.
