Throughout December 2022.
Join us us for one last celebration as we commemorate a wonderful year and draw a close to the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival this December.
Saturnalia was possibly the most popular Roman festival and is most closely associated with Christmas and merrymaking.
We’re giving Saturnalia a Hadrian’s Wall 1900 makeover with a really special community-led celebration to see the year out in style.
Festival of Saturnalia
The word ‘Saturnalia’ has the meaning of ‘an occasion of wild revelry or indulgence’.
Throughout December we are inviting anyone and everyone to join the festivities and deliver their own Saturnalia celebrations, events and activities to make this a truly wall-wide knees up.
We’re inviting YOU to get involved and host an event or activity for Saturnalia as part of Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival, and it could be anything from hosting a Saturnalia-themed Christmas Party in your local village hall to a banquet in your living room or local pub.
You could encourage your neighbours to decorate their windows or create lanterns for their doorsteps or nominate the most mischievous member of your community as Lord of Misrule to preside over your celebrations.
Look out for Saturnalia Packs being developed by artist, Hannah Fox, to help you with your celebrations including traditional recipes, Saturnalia Songs, and inspiration on themes, activities and making your own decorations.
Anyone can deliver activity – individuals, groups, businesses – and at any scale.
It can be a public event with tickets, or just with a group of friends, a business venture or a solo activity. All activities will be listed on the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival website to either advertise them or document them or both.
If you’re interested in delivering a Saturnalia activity, no matter how big or small, please complete the form below to register your interest:
Organisers are expected to be responsible for the management, safety, local marketing, and funding for their events, so please ensure you have considered this in putting your ideas together.
There are also volunteering opportunities for Saturnalia events led by the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Festival.