Lore:Saturalia

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Traditional Saturalia clothing

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 Overlap[edit]

A castle decorated for the coming Saturalia and New Life Festival (Castles)

Saturalia shares some elements with the cross-continental New Life Festival, with it managing to become connected (or at some points synonymous with) the festival. This is thanks to the efforts of merchants from the trade hub that is Wayrest capitalizing on the holiday through consumer goods. Widespread adoption of Saturalia-themed trees, decorations, and more across Tamriel for usage in the New Life Festival make for a booming market during this time of year, touching even Tamrielans that grew up with their own New Life traditions.[7] This convergence of these Breton-influenced aesthetics and practices were started during the time of the Daggerfall Covenant,[7] and has carried onto the Fourth Era.[8][9]

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][8][10] However, for the Bretons, decorating with saturalia trees is a longstanding tradition.[11] Gift giving is another thing shared among these holidays, where "giving gifts" are placed under saturalia trees.[12][13] Among the Khajiit, the Saturalia celebration and sharing of gifts is known as the "Saturalia Baan Dar gift swap".[14] 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.[15][16]

Despite many Saturalian traditions being incorporated into New Life, the latter retains its unique customs, which each participating Tamrielic race practices in their own way—even among the Bretons, who celebrate both Saturalia and the New Life Festival.[17]

Gallery[edit]

  • Town with Saturalia/New Life Festival decorations

  • A traveling Saturalia merchant

  • Dancing around a Saturalia Tree

  • Saturalia Ice Steed

  • Evergreen Saturalia Weaponry

  • Saturalia Tree (Castles)

  • A bearded Breton in Jolly Robes (Castles)

  • A Breton in horned Silent Night Robes (Castles)

Notes[edit]

  • 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.

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Saturalia Tree Decoration in Blades
  2. ^ a b New Life Festival Interview — Countess Aurorelle Edrald, Marwig Yeomcroft, Priestess Phaziyya, and Mochtuinne Eye-Tooth
  3. ^ Saturalia description in Daggerfall
  4. ^ Reindeer mount in Skyrim
  5. ^ Saturalia Ice Steed description in ESO
  6. ^ Chriane's Infused Libation item description in ESO
  7. ^ a b Loremaster's Archive—Tamriel's Holidays
  8. ^ a b Grand Saturalia Tree Decoration in Blades
  9. ^ New Life Festival event having Saturalia decorations in Blades
  10. ^ Enchanted Saturalia Tree description in ESO
  11. ^ Saturalia Tree description in Castles
  12. ^ New Life Festival Box in ESO
  13. ^ Saturalia Grove Decoration in Blades
  14. ^ Bakhum's dialogue in The Dark Moon's Jaws in ESO
  15. ^ Saturalia Clothing in Skyrim
  16. ^ New Life Festival clothing in ESO
  17. ^ Breda's dialogue in ESO
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