Saturnalia gay holiday
This Ancient Roman Holiday Is the Real &#;Gay Christmas&#;
The gays possess long referred to Halloween as “gay Christmas,” but did you know there’s actually a other holiday that more perfectly matches that description? So collect ‘round the rainbow Yule, join the queer chorus, and follow me in merry measure as I tell you about what is about to turn into your new favorite holiday, Saturnalia.
Gay Christmas, otherwise known as Saturnalia, was an ancient Roman festival held in mid-December to honor Saturn, the god of sowing, plenty, and agriculture. Though Saturnalia initially started as a one-day affair, it quickly grew into a three-day — and then a week-long — festivity. Because if you’re going to do Gay Christmas, you’re going to do it right.
Many present day Christmas traditions can be traced back to Saturnalia. Customs love decorating our homes with wreaths, singing, feasting, and present giving all originated during this holiday. Schools were closed, business was halted, and the courts were out of session. Strict dress codes were loosened, with participants exchanging their to
A History of Gay Halloween (And Why It’s Called “Gay Christmas”)
Why has Halloween caught on so strongly in the LGBTQ2S+ community? One reason could be that LGBTQ2S+ people invest large parts of their lives hiding their authentic selves, and presenting in a way that’s at odds with their desires and identity. Halloween’s emphasis on dressing up as something you’re typically not ends up being a powerful outlet to offer ourselves in a way that expresses who you really are. (And if you’re already doing that anyway, Halloween gives you an excuse to change the dial up to )
What’s the history that led to Halloween’s status as the de facto LGBTQ2S+ holiday? And why is it often called “Gay Christmas,” anyway? Examine on to find out!
A history of gay Halloween celebrations
In the November 1, of The Pittsburgh Force, an article described “girls who had donned male attire” being arrested for their transgression against gender norms — or as the article describes it, “appeared at the Pivotal police station and took their medicine.” In , police once again arrested both “women in men’s clothes”
Saturnalia
WATCH: The Winter Solstice
How the Romans Celebrated Saturnalia
During Saturnalia, work and business came to a halt. Schools and courts of statute closed, and the normal social patterns were suspended.
People decorated their homes with wreaths and other greenery, and shed their traditional togas in favor of colorful clothes known as synthesis. Even enslaved people did not have to work during Saturnalia, but were allowed to participate in the festivities; in some cases, they sat at the head of the table while their masters served them.
Instead of working, Romans spent Saturnalia gambling, singing, playing harmony, feasting, socializing and giving each other gifts. Wax taper candles called cerei were common gifts during Saturnalia, to signify flash returning after the solstice.
On the last day of Saturnalia celebrations, known as the Sigillaria, many Romans gave their friends and loved ones small terracotta figurines known as signillaria, which may have referred back to older celebrations involving human sacrifice.
Saturnalia was by far the jolliest
Saturnalia &#; The Real Gay Christmas
Follow me in merry measure as I tell you about what is about to become your new favourite holiday, Saturnalia. Oh, what a queer festival it was.
What is Saturnalia?
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival held in mid-December to honour Saturn, the god of sowing, plenty, and agriculture. Though Saturnalia initially started as a one-day affair, it quickly grew into a three-day — and then a week-long — festivity.
(Because if you’re going to do Gay Christmas, you’re going to do it right.)
There’s less solid historical information about lesbians and trans men, sadly, but of course, they would have been there too.
Many of our present-day Christmas traditions can be traced back to Saturnalia. Customs like decorating our homes with wreaths, singing, feasting, and gift-giving all originated during this holiday. Other customs included schools being closed, business was halted, and the courts being out of session. Strict dress codes were loosened, with participants exchanging their togas for more colourful clothing, and even gambling was allo