Saturalia is a Breton celebration that heralds the New Life Festival, and is held on the 25th of Evening Star.[1][2] Originally a holiday for a "long forgotten god of debauchery", it has become a time of gift giving, parties, and parading. Visitors are encouraged to participate.[3] Reindeer are traditionally associated with the holiday.[4]
Among the Khajiit the Saturalia celebration and sharing of gifts is known as the "Saturalia Baan Dar gift swap".[5]
A tale covers a miraculous rescue by Sanguine. During a winter storm, a lost and abandoned mercenary prayed for rescue, and Sanguine answered it by creating a frozen steed for her, which allowed her to take vengeance against the lord that betrayed her on Saturalia morning.[6]
Saturalia shares many similarities to the New Life Festival. A shared tradition involves decorating evergreen trees with elaborate decorations, and are topped with a shining light ornament on its peak.[1] Evergreen trees are chosen because they are associated with resilience and rebirth.[7] Gift giving is another thing shared,[8] and "giving gifts" are placed under these festive trees.[9] Saturalia trees are used in both Saturalia and the New Life Festival.[7] In both holidays, shades of cerulean are used as the color of clothing for these holidays.[10][11]
GalleryEdit
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Town with Saturalia/New Life Festival decorations
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A traveling Saturalia merchant
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Dancing around a Saturalia Tree
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Saturalia Ice Steed
NotesEdit
- The name of the holiday is nearly identical to the ancient Roman Saturnalia, which ran from December 17–23 on the Julian calendar and involved feasting, partying and gift-giving. There was also a loosening of certain social mores, though it fell short of outright debauchery.
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b Saturalia Tree Decoration in Blades
- ^ New Life Festival Interview — Countess Aurorelle Edrald, Marwig Yeomcroft, Priestess Phaziyya, and Mochtuinne Eye-Tooth
- ^ Saturalia description in Daggerfall
- ^ Reindeer mount in Skyrim
- ^ Bakhum's dialogue in The Dark Moon's Jaws in ESO
- ^ Saturalia Ice Steed description in ESO
- ^ a b Grand Saturalia Tree Decoration in Blades
- ^ New Life Festival Box in ESO
- ^ Saturalia Grove Decoration in Blades
- ^ Saturalia Clothing in Skyrim
- ^ New Life Festival clothing in ESO
