Editing Saturnalia (section)

===Rite at the temple of Saturn===
[[File:Tavares.Forum.Romanum.redux.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.25|Ruins of the [[Temple of Saturn]] (eight columns on right) in Rome, traditionally said to have been constructed in 497 BC{{sfn|Palmer|1997|page=63}}{{sfn|Mueller|2010|page=221}}]]

The statue of Saturn at his main temple normally had its feet bound in wool, which was removed for the holiday as an act of liberation.<ref>[[Macrobius]] 1.8.5, citing [[Verrius Flaccus]] as his authority; see also [[Statius]], ''Silvae'' 1.6.4; [[Arnobius]] 4.24; [[Minucius Felix]] 23.5; Miller, "Roman Festivals," in ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome'', p. 172</ref>{{sfn|Versnel|1992|page=142}} The official rituals were carried out according to "Greek rite" ''([[ritus graecus]])''. The sacrifice was officiated by a priest,<ref>The identity or title of this priest is unknown; perhaps the ''[[rex sacrorum]]'' or one of the [[Roman Magistrates|magistrates]]: [[William Warde Fowler]], ''The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic'' (London, 1908), p. 271.</ref> whose head was uncovered; in Roman rite, priests sacrificed ''[[capite velato]]'', with head covered by a special fold of the [[toga]].{{sfn|Versnel|1992|pages=139–140}} This procedure is usually explained by  Saturn's [[interpretatio graeca|assimilation with his Greek counterpart]] [[Cronus]], since the Romans often adopted and reinterpreted [[Greek mythology|Greek myths]], iconography, and even religious practices for [[List of Roman deities|their own deities]], but the uncovering of the priest's head may also be one of the Saturnalian reversals, the opposite of what was normal.{{sfn|Versnel|1992|page=140}}

Following the sacrifice the [[Roman Senate]] arranged a ''[[lectisternium]]'', a ritual of Greek origin that typically involved placing a deity's image on a sumptuous couch, as if he were present and actively participating in the festivities. A public banquet followed ''([[Symposium|convivium]] publicum)''.<ref>[[Livy]] 22.1; {{harvnb|Palmer|1997|page=63}}</ref>{{sfn|Versnel|1992|page=141}}

The day was supposed to be a holiday from all forms of work. Schools were closed, and exercise regimens were suspended. Courts were not in session, so no justice was administered, and no [[declaration of war]] could be made.<ref>{{harvnb|Versnel|1992|page=147}}, citing [[Pliny the Younger]], ''Letters'' 8.7.1, [[Martial]] 5.84 and 12.81; [[Lucian]], ''Cronosolon'' 13; Macrobius, ''Saturnalia'' 1.10.1, 4, 23.</ref> After the public rituals, observances continued [[domus|at home]].{{sfn|Beard|North|Price|1998a|page=50}} On 18 and 19 December, which were also holidays from public business, families conducted domestic rituals. They bathed early, and those with means sacrificed a [[suckling pig]], a traditional offering to an [[chthonic|earth deity]].<ref>[[Horace]], ''Odes'' 3.17, Martial 14.70; Fowler, ''Roman Festivals'', p. 272.</ref>