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]
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.[5] Saturalia Bitter Mulled Wine is a alcoholic drink enjoyed during this day.[6]
Saturalia and New Life OverlapEdit
Saturalia shares some elements with the New Life Festival. A shared tradition involves converting evergreen trees via makeover into "saturalia trees" with elaborate decorations, which are topped with a shining light ornament on its peak. Evergreen trees are chosen because they are associated with resilience and rebirth.[1][7][8] However, for the Bretons, decorating with saturalia trees is a longstanding tradition.[9]
Gift giving is another thing shared among these holidays, where "giving gifts" are placed under these festive trees.[10][11] Among the Khajiit, the Saturalia celebration and sharing of gifts is known as the "Saturalia Baan Dar gift swap".[12] The people of Elinhir celebrate the tradition of "Secret Sanguine" during New Life, where the identity of a gift giver is a mystery from the intended recipient. The gifts are promiscuous in nature, and are intended to dare the recipient into naughty acts.[2]
In both holidays, shades of cerulean are used as the color of clothing for these holidays.[13][14]
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
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Evergreen Saturalia Weaponry
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Saturalia Tree (Castles)
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A bearded Breton in Jolly Robes (Castles)
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A Breton in horned Silent Night Robes (Castles)
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
- ^ a b New Life Festival Interview — Countess Aurorelle Edrald, Marwig Yeomcroft, Priestess Phaziyya, and Mochtuinne Eye-Tooth
- ^ Saturalia description in Daggerfall
- ^ Reindeer mount in Skyrim
- ^ Saturalia Ice Steed description in ESO
- ^ Chriane's Infused Libation item description in ESO
- ^ Grand Saturalia Tree Decoration in Blades
- ^ Enchanted Saturalia Tree description in ESO
- ^ Saturalia Tree description in Castles
- ^ New Life Festival Box in ESO
- ^ Saturalia Grove Decoration in Blades
- ^ Bakhum's dialogue in The Dark Moon's Jaws in ESO
- ^ Saturalia Clothing in Skyrim
- ^ New Life Festival clothing in ESO
