Roman Saturnalia Parade is next big event in Chester’s Christmas festival

Dec 11 2009 Chester Chronicle

CHESTER'S Christmas celebrations continue with the final Christmas parade on Thursday, December 17.

The Roman Saturnalia torch-lit procession of soldiers will parade through the city.

This year, you can join the soldiers from the Deva Victrix 20th Legion (Chester's Roman Tours Ltd) and Ya Raq’s, Egyptian dancers, as they march from the Grosvenor Museum to Eastgate Street where torches will be lit.

The parade, which is free and open to all, will leave the museum at approximately 6.30pm, returning for a grand finale and refreshments followed by a chance to look round the museum’s latest exhibition – ‘No Flies on Him: The Multi-Talented Professor Newstead’.

Saturnalia was a Roman mid-winter celebration, commemorating the dedication of the temple of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture and the harvest.

During this festival there was a reversal of traditional roles, with slaves wearing fine garments and sitting at the head of the table while they were waited upon by their masters.

People ate massive quantities of food, drank a great deal, and engaged in entertainments like dancing, parades, and plays.

Traditionally, a member of the household was appointed as the ‘Lord of Misrule’, whose role it was to preside over the celebrations and make sure they were as raucous as possible.

Christmas events and late night shopping times are available in the Christmas magazine, online at www.visitchester.com/christmas.

Chester's popular “Free After Three” parking in the Market (Princess Street), Gorse Stacks and St Anne's Street car parks runs throughout December, continuing into the New Year until March 31. Š

Avoid the traffic in the city centre and use the park and ride service to travel into Chester. Late night Thursdays operate up to December 17. Park and ride is free after 5pm during Christmas.