The Saturnalia was initially a Roman festival in honor of the god Saturn, originally as an EN on Day 17 December was celebrated and moved to the Julian calendar reform of the daily character to NP status. The Saturnalia found only after 45 BC as a multi-day festival between 17 and 23 December application, but later to 30 December has been extended.

The date goes back to the founding date the temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum.

The celebrations began with a sacrifice before the temple of Saturn and a public feast. Public institutions were closed during the Saturnalia. The temple held public feeding. It was customary to give gifts to the Saturnalia.

The most important aspect of the Saturnalia was the abolition of class distinctions, even slaves were treated on that day by their masters as equals, in part, the roles were actually reversed, so that the men served their slaves. It was a Saturnalia prince (princeps Saturnalicus chosen), in part, this was also Bibendi rex (“king of drinking”) called.  

This name also point to the strong increase in wine consumption down during the holidays. Not only the wine was drunk during the holidays to a great extent, it was officially allowed the dice game for money. Even otherwise, the morality eased considerably during the holidays.

In some German universities (such as Cologne and Kiel) are now traditional “Saturnalia” organized as a student party in which one settles into the festive season with the lecturers “.

Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalien

See Also: idul fitri, hamper hari raya, hari raya hampers