saturnalia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

According to historians, in midwinter the ancient Romans would celebrate the end of planting season by honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, liberation and time, with a weeklong festival of Saturnalia.

From Washington Post

Saturnalia, the pagan ur-Christmas, with its days of feasting, in which masters had to wait on their servants, would be a great replacement, in my opinion.

From The New Yorker

The Romans associated holly with the god Saturn, and they used it to make wreaths and decorative sprigs during Saturnalia on Dec. 17.

From Los Angeles Times

There are a few other holidays this time of year, and the folks who celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Saturnalia, Festivus and Ramadan — which does fall in December occasionally — are also citizens of America.

From Washington Post

A figure whose origin can be traced to the pre-Christian era, the Krampus combines elements from numerous European traditions, like the Roman Saturnalia and Kalends, winter festivals that inverted the social order. 

From Los Angeles Times