Originally, it was celebrated on the 17 th December, midway between the Consualia on the 15th and the Opalia on the 19th. The Saturnalia was one of several harvest festivals celebrated in December. The timing of the festival corresponds with this. The name ‘Saturn’ is believed to derive from the Latin for sowing, satus. Many features of the festival agree this origin. The god Janus instigated the festival in gratitude for Saturnus’s legendary introduction of agriculture to Italy. The origins of the festival are obscure, encompassing a need to celebrate the bounty of the harvest and the good things in life, whilst propitiating the dark and threatening forces of winterĪccording to legend, the Saturnalia predated the foundation of Rome. The Origins of Saturnus’s Winter Feast.ĭuring the Saturnalia, the god Saturn was ‘released’ to rule again for the festival. However, as time passed, gifts became more ostentatious, so much so that legislation was necessary to prevent the less wealthy from beggaring themselves giving gifts they could ill afford. Traditionally, they were pottery figures called sigilla and wax candles, purchased at the fair that marked the closing days of Saturnalia. The people spent their time playing games, gambling, eating and drinking. Slaves would be served by their own masters who would dress informally, even wearing the traditional slaves hat, the pilleus. Each household would choose a King of the festival by lot to preside over their own parties and celebrations. Criminals could not be convicted or wars started. Drinking and being drunk, noise and games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of tremulous hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water,-such are the functions over which I preside.įor this period at least, pleasure ruled the Romans. ‘ during my week the serious is barred, ‘ Saturn tells his priest in Lucian’s Saturnalia, ‘ no business allowed. For the period of the festival, Saturnus was King.ĭuring the rule of Saturnus, the festival inverted normal social ruled. The Celebrations of SaturnaliaĪ public banquet at the temple of Saturn marked the opening celebrations of Saturnalia, when the god’s statue was released from the ties which bound it to the temple for the rest of the year. Its festivities lasted for a week, with normal life suspended in favour of eating, drinking, gift giving and social subversion.ĭespite its pagan origins, many continued to celebrate Saturnalia beyond the Christian era, as it finally bequeathed many of its elements to the Christmas celebrations of today.
THE DARK SIDE OF SATURNALIA SERIES
Painting by Lawrence Alma Tademaĭedicated to the god Saturn, Saturnalia was one of a series of Roman festivals celebrated at midwinter. Elements of it survive in our own Christmas celebrations. The Cover art was made by Manuel Tinnemans (Devil’s Blood, Necros Christos, Deathspell Omega etc).The Saturnalia was a favourite Roman festival of misrule and merriment. US drummer Tim Call (Aldebaran, Howling Wind, Nightfell etc) brings his experience and power to the band on this recording. Its title “To The Other” is to signify that it is a gift from the band to both the Other Side, and to all that is in the shadows, in the other side of existence, that which has been neglected by the everyday world of light. "To The Other" is instead a relentless journey through the downfall of the world and the rise of the individual against the grain. The strong occult and dark magical backbone is more prevalent than ever, and as a band that actually started before the current occult trend, there are no fetishistic hoods, blood or pentagrams. Since its release, the critically acclaimed debut "Aion of Drakon" took the band to numerous major festivals including Roadburn, Hell’s pleasure and Heavy Days in Doomtown as well as on both a EU and a US tour. As a band that moves intently and without compromise, this recording and production was done in their own studio: Sitra Ahra, located in the forests outside Uppsala, Sweden.
THE DARK SIDE OF SATURNALIA FULL
SATURNALIA TEMPLE is black magic metal, a dark spiritual vortex rooted in heavy and hypnotic sounds, a pure voice of the Draconian magical tradition and is now releasing their second full length album.
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