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Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics Podcast
Saturnalia

Saturnalia

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics vor 1 Jahr

Natalie Haynes celebrates Saturnalia with guests André Vincent and Llewelyn Morgan.

0:00

27:30

No togas today please. Natalie celebrates the mid-winter festival
of Ancient Rome, Saturnalia. According to Catullus, it's the
'best of days'.

Expect cross-dressing, sweets, drinking games and the wearing of
special pyjamas. Oh and anarchy and jokes. Sounds a bit like a
Christmas pantomime? Not surprising, according to veteran
pantomime dame André Vincent, who traces the origins of panto
back to the fifth century. Early in that same century - late
antiquity - a Roman Christian named Macrobius wrote the most
comprehensive extant guide to Saturnalia, which was celebrated in
some places, in one way or another, until possibly the eleventh
century.

You are invited to be part of this festive show which includes
gifts for the entire Radio Theatre audience (cue noisy rustling
of sweet bags) and the wearing of traditional Saturnalian pointy
hats (the 'pileus') to celebrate. Even Professor Llewelyn Morgan
has one. Honest.

Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery