Saturnalia in Budapest

One of the most popular feasts in Ancient Rome was a celebration dedicated to the god of agriculture and time, Saturn - introduced around the third century BC, Saturnalia days were marked by the reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters switched places for fun.
Although there is no scriptural or secular evidence that early Christians in the first centuries AD commemorated the birth of Jesus, Saturnalia is in a way still the predecessor of Christmas, as the festival was celebrated with similar customs (gift giving, plenty of food) and the date also coincides with the pagan feast.
In the period between the 20th and the 25th of December The Friends of Aquincum Association and the Aquincum Museum in Budapest organize days of fun for families, offering them the opportunity to revive the antique traditions with the help of interesting children games and special workshops.

Aquincum Museum and Ruin Park are located in the northern part of Budapest, close to the Danube river – the museum building is surrounded by gardens where the ancient ruins of a former Roman civil town are exhibited.
During the first three days of the event, the courtyard surrounding the exhibition hall will host a Christmas Fair with artisans' works for sale, that can be visited during the opening hours, then later in the week there will be handicraft courses, a sacrificial ritual, a pantomime show and a slave market. With the help of experts both children and adults can get to know and try out antique toys and there will be performances selected from Antique literature and staged by actors; these Saturnalia programs will take place between 2 PM and 6 PM.

Those who would like to attend the festivities, can find several places of accommodation nearby – for those who want to relax with thermal and wellness services after the fair we recommend Ramada Plaza Budapest***** (former Corinthia Aquincum Hotel), BB Hotel*** is ready to welcome romantic guests with rooms with jacuzzis, and families who don’t want to spend much and are only interested in attending the Saturnalia the perfect choice is the simple but friendly Hotel Touring**.