Saturnalia
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the festival of Saturn, celebrated in December, originallyduring one day, but afterward during seven days, as a period ofunrestrained license and merriment for all classes, extending even tothe slaves.
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Saturnalia is the ancient Roman holiday celebrated around the winter solstice.
It was in praise of the god Saturn, and consisted of a huge drunken orgy.
Another common practice during this festival was the switching of slave and master roles. for one day, all the slave owners gave up their power to their slaves.
the common saying for this festival (ex. merry Christmas) was [Io -
an ancient Roman celebration that happened on 19 December
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The ancient Roman festival of Saturn in December, which was a period of general merrymaking and was the predecessor of Christmas.
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