Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

Saturnalia


Listen Later

No togas today please. Natalie celebrates the mid-winter festival of Ancient Rome, Saturnalia. According to Catullus, it's the 'best of days'.

Expect cross-dressing, sweets, drinking games and the wearing of special pyjamas. Oh and anarchy and jokes. Sounds a bit like a Christmas pantomime? Not surprising, according to veteran pantomime dame André Vincent, who traces the origins of panto back to the fifth century. Early in that same century - late antiquity - a Roman Christian named Macrobius wrote the most comprehensive extant guide to Saturnalia, which was celebrated in some places, in one way or another, until possibly the eleventh century.

You are invited to be part of this festive show which includes gifts for the entire Radio Theatre audience (cue noisy rustling of sweet bags) and the wearing of traditional Saturnalian pointy hats (the 'pileus') to celebrate. Even Professor Llewelyn Morgan has one. Honest.

Producer...Mary Ward-Lowery

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the ClassicsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

254 ratings


More shows like Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,067 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,576 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,808 Listeners

HistoryExtra podcast by Immediate

HistoryExtra podcast

3,196 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,729 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,018 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,113 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,952 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,791 Listeners

Bookclub by BBC Radio 4

Bookclub

241 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,245 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

779 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,358 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

15,506 Listeners

Gone Medieval by History Hit

Gone Medieval

1,920 Listeners

Not Just the Tudors by History Hit

Not Just the Tudors

2,060 Listeners

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society by History Hit

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

1,395 Listeners

Empire: World History by Goalhanger

Empire: World History

2,552 Listeners

Journey Through Time by Goalhanger

Journey Through Time

248 Listeners

Instant Classics by Vespucci

Instant Classics

189 Listeners