Black Friday? Cyber Monday? Wind back 2000 years to Ancient Rome

Campus Martius Rome, AD 300 (reconstruction)

Shopping is a national obsession in many countries and December is the peak of the frenzy. In a way, it’s a sign of the relative wealth of 21st century people, but in another it plays to the instincts of acquisition and, somewhere in the lizard brain, survival. […]

12 Days of Christmas – includes Saturnalia!

Well, I’ve managed to sneak Saturnalia in to two Christmas online book celebrations. It’s when authors have a bit of fun.

First is a video and I’d bet you’ve never seen or heard a ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ song quite like this! Well, it’s ‘Twelve Books of Christmas’ if we’re being accurate. Look out for […]

Saturnalia - serious Roman festival or free for all?

The Temple of Saturn, Rome

Saturnalia was one of the most important Roman festivals.

Heavy on feasting, fun and gifts, it was originally celebrated in the early days of Ancient Rome for one day only around 17 December.However, it became so popular that it expanded into a week or even longer, despite Augustus’ […]