1
00:00:00,830 --> 00:00:02,230
Announcer: This is
a Getty Podcast.

2
00:00:05,660 --> 00:00:06,820
[Wind blows and
lute music begins]

3
00:00:07,010 --> 00:00:09,530
Host: The nights are getting
chilly and the days are

4
00:00:09,530 --> 00:00:13,420
getting shorter which can
only mean one thing—Saturnalia

5
00:00:13,460 --> 00:00:15,039
is right around the corner!

6
00:00:15,650 --> 00:00:16,889
[Theme music begins]

7
00:00:17,089 --> 00:00:20,570
Welcome to If Objects Could
Talk, a podcast where art

8
00:00:20,670 --> 00:00:23,810
and artifacts get to leave
the museum vault and tell

9
00:00:23,890 --> 00:00:25,470
their side of the story.

10
00:00:26,470 --> 00:00:29,960
This week we’re helping you get
ready for the biggest holiday of

11
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,320
the season—Saturnalia of course!

12
00:00:32,350 --> 00:00:32,460
[group cheering]

13
00:00:33,850 --> 00:00:36,715
[Theme music ends]

14
00:00:38,370 --> 00:00:41,600
We’re joined by a Roman doll
who was carved from bone

15
00:00:41,620 --> 00:00:43,870
in the third century CE.

16
00:00:44,349 --> 00:00:47,179
She’s only about eight
inches tall, or the size

17
00:00:47,179 --> 00:00:48,480
of a small pencil case.

18
00:00:49,059 --> 00:00:52,370
And she’s here in this special
holiday bonus episode to

19
00:00:52,370 --> 00:00:56,040
guide us through the hottest
gifts this year, and every

20
00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:58,280
year, for the past 2000 years.

21
00:00:58,330 --> 00:00:58,530
[voice says “woah!”]

22
00:00:59,269 --> 00:01:02,620
But first, an old friend
has slithered out from her

23
00:01:02,630 --> 00:01:05,910
vault again to help remind
us of the holiday spirit

24
00:01:05,969 --> 00:01:07,640
and Saturnalia traditions.

25
00:01:07,670 --> 00:01:11,960
Snake Bracelet: You don't
celebrate Saturnalia?

26
00:01:11,961 --> 00:01:11,962


27
00:01:11,963 --> 00:01:12,119
[Flute music begins]

28
00:01:14,270 --> 00:01:15,970
Oh that’s too bad,
you would love it.

29
00:01:15,970 --> 00:01:21,140
Saturnalia was a week-long
winter festival timed to

30
00:01:21,220 --> 00:01:25,539
celebrate the winter solstice,
the promise of a bountiful

31
00:01:25,539 --> 00:01:29,309
spring harvest and to honor
the god of wealth, time,

32
00:01:29,340 --> 00:01:31,769
and agriculture: Saturn.

33
00:01:32,339 --> 00:01:35,660
There was feasting,
partying, relaxing,

34
00:01:39,710 --> 00:01:39,803
and REPEAT!

35
00:01:39,803 --> 00:01:39,806
[laughs]

36
00:01:39,806 --> 00:01:43,710
Saturnalia was all about
ease, even social norms

37
00:01:43,710 --> 00:01:45,110
and rules were lightened.

38
00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,969
For instance, gambling was
illegal, but during Saturnalia

39
00:01:49,150 --> 00:01:51,060
a little bet didn’t hurt anyone.

40
00:01:51,060 --> 00:01:51,206
[dice clatter on table]

41
00:01:51,220 --> 00:01:55,090
And dress codes were
also loosened which was

42
00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,080
disappointing because
fashion is very important.

43
00:01:58,240 --> 00:01:59,289
[Soothing flute music begins]

44
00:01:59,289 --> 00:02:02,289
People also exchanged
gifts, which is how I

45
00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,479
bring this back to me!

46
00:02:04,500 --> 00:02:05,990
[record scratch]

47
00:02:06,229 --> 00:02:09,850
Doll: [interrupts] Okay, okay
Snake—you’ve had your episode!

48
00:02:09,909 --> 00:02:11,460
Now it’s my turn!

49
00:02:12,260 --> 00:02:14,270
Let’s give a warm welcome to

50
00:02:17,140 --> 00:02:17,200
[laughs] …me!

51
00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:18,683
[Triumphant drumroll]

52
00:02:18,683 --> 00:02:20,020
Hello everyone,
and Io Saturnalia!

53
00:02:20,780 --> 00:02:20,960
[crowd celebrating]

54
00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,810
[whispers] That's how we
wish each other a happy

55
00:02:23,810 --> 00:02:25,170
Saturnalia in Latin.

56
00:02:25,870 --> 00:02:28,799
I am so thrilled to
be out of storage.

57
00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,199
Now, I may be a 1,700-year-old
Roman doll—give or take a

58
00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:37,530
few decades—but giving the
perfect gift is a timeless art!

59
00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,209
I understand gift giving
from the inside out—because

60
00:02:41,260 --> 00:02:44,590
I was once a gift for a
very lucky child, just

61
00:02:44,590 --> 00:02:45,710
like the snake bracelet.

62
00:02:46,050 --> 00:02:48,270
But that’s not what we’re
here to talk about right now.

63
00:02:48,270 --> 00:02:49,240
[Lute music begins]

64
00:02:49,550 --> 00:02:53,640
Like the Snake mentioned,
Saturnalia was the holiday

65
00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:56,769
of the Roman calendar
and gifts were a big part

66
00:02:56,770 --> 00:02:57,950
of making it special.

67
00:02:58,250 --> 00:03:01,560
So today, I’m here to give you
a hand this holiday season.

68
00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:05,340
[laughs] But not literally—my
arms went missing ages ago.

69
00:03:06,220 --> 00:03:08,420
[child searching says “hmm”]

70
00:03:08,420 --> 00:03:10,480
You’ll need to be the one
carrying the bags as you

71
00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,750
shop ’til you drop—and I’ll
help out with my ultimate

72
00:03:13,980 --> 00:03:16,440
Saturnalia Gift Guide!

73
00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,535
[DJ air horn blowing]

74
00:03:19,059 --> 00:03:23,010
To prepare this guide for you,
I’ve read all 223 Saturnalia

75
00:03:24,660 --> 00:03:26,180
gift poems by Martial.

76
00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,090
[book pages turn] I’ve scoured
the best comic plays and

77
00:03:29,090 --> 00:03:31,030
philosophical texts of my day.

78
00:03:31,370 --> 00:03:34,600
All to make sure you’re getting
the most bang for your coin.

79
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,640
[coin jingle] You
still use those, right?

80
00:03:37,209 --> 00:03:38,699
Anyway, let’s dive in!

81
00:03:39,679 --> 00:03:40,789
[water splash]

82
00:03:40,789 --> 00:03:44,550
First up on my most excellent
guide: gifts to light up

83
00:03:44,550 --> 00:03:46,500
the dark, winter nights!

84
00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:46,972
[Peaceful music begins]

85
00:03:47,130 --> 00:03:50,389
Saturnalia started on
Dec. 17 and lasted through

86
00:03:50,389 --> 00:03:53,489
the winter solstice—the
longest night of the year!

87
00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,359
So of course, Romans
loved gifting lamps,

88
00:03:57,460 --> 00:03:58,570
candles, and candlesticks.

89
00:03:59,110 --> 00:04:02,550
Some even had many wicks—because
who wants one little flame

90
00:04:02,550 --> 00:04:03,350
when you can have six?

91
00:04:04,730 --> 00:04:08,209
Like many winter holidays now,
light was an important way

92
00:04:08,210 --> 00:04:09,930
Romans celebrated Saturnalia.

93
00:04:10,539 --> 00:04:14,170
Light meant warmth, joy, and
hope that the long nights

94
00:04:14,370 --> 00:04:15,630
would soon get shorter.

95
00:04:15,830 --> 00:04:16,880
And honestly?

96
00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,100
A cozy glow makes
every occasion sparkle!

97
00:04:20,510 --> 00:04:23,210
[sparkling sounds]

98
00:04:24,469 --> 00:04:27,669
Now, not every gift
had to be fancy.

99
00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:29,800
Who doesn't love
a good gag gift?

100
00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:30,295
[person giggles]

101
00:04:30,295 --> 00:04:31,038
[Playful music begins]

102
00:04:31,038 --> 00:04:33,960
Poets wrote about people
giving funny little trinkets

103
00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:38,450
and even prank presents—like
intentionally bad poetry.

104
00:04:38,730 --> 00:04:40,319
Child: Roses are red.

105
00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:41,940
Violets are blue.

106
00:04:42,259 --> 00:04:44,149
I’m allergic to flowers.

107
00:04:44,569 --> 00:04:46,089
Ah-ah-choo!

108
00:04:47,529 --> 00:04:48,959
[children laugh]

109
00:04:48,959 --> 00:04:51,190
Doll: Saturnalia was the
perfect time to be silly, you

110
00:04:51,190 --> 00:04:52,610
know, switch things up a bit!

111
00:04:53,010 --> 00:04:55,680
Another Saturnalia
tradition was that people

112
00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,079
switched roles, especially
the rich and the poor.

113
00:04:59,420 --> 00:05:02,070
But can you imagine parents
acting like kids and

114
00:05:02,070 --> 00:05:03,760
kids acting like parents?

115
00:05:03,770 --> 00:05:04,539
[child says “ooh”]

116
00:05:04,629 --> 00:05:07,590
If you could swap roles
with anyone for a day,

117
00:05:07,950 --> 00:05:09,000
who would you pick?

118
00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:09,190
Child 2: You!

119
00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:10,360
Mom: Me?

120
00:05:10,610 --> 00:05:11,740
Well I’d pick you!

121
00:05:12,210 --> 00:05:12,290
[child laughs]

122
00:05:12,870 --> 00:05:14,740
Doll: You’d fit right
in with the Romans!

123
00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,629
Okay, now for some rapid-fire
all-time favorites!

124
00:05:18,809 --> 00:05:22,630
For the food lovers I suggest
roasted nuts, cheese, sausages,

125
00:05:22,650 --> 00:05:24,110
boar, and sweet cakes!

126
00:05:24,110 --> 00:05:24,240
[child says “mmm”]

127
00:05:25,610 --> 00:05:28,210
For the fashion fans,
can’t go wrong with

128
00:05:28,230 --> 00:05:31,622
hairpins, rings, togas, and
delicate perfume bottles!

129
00:05:31,622 --> 00:05:32,320
[bottles clink]

130
00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,840
For the writers and the
thinkers, never enough

131
00:05:35,840 --> 00:05:38,429
scrolls, pens, and
pretty sheets of papyrus!

132
00:05:38,939 --> 00:05:39,289
[pen scratch] Oh!

133
00:05:39,559 --> 00:05:42,090
Don’t forget a good
book—I recommend Homer’s

134
00:05:42,250 --> 00:05:44,489
Iliad or Virgil’s Aeneid!

135
00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:45,710
For the gamers: Step away

136
00:05:47,750 --> 00:05:51,820
from the headsets and streaming
devices and pick up some dice!

137
00:05:52,670 --> 00:05:54,730
[dice clatter] The Romans
called them tali and

138
00:05:54,740 --> 00:05:59,450
tesserae—perfect for a lively
game-just shake and toss!

139
00:05:59,460 --> 00:06:02,460
Pro tip: for a guide on how
to play like a real Roman,

140
00:06:02,750 --> 00:06:05,510
listen to our “All’s Fair
in Love and Games” episode.

141
00:06:05,659 --> 00:06:05,980
[circus-like music plays]

142
00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:08,959
And for the animal lovers?

143
00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,540
Why not a puppy to snuggle
with on a cold winter’s night!

144
00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,640
[puppy whines] Martial wrote
about a little Gallic puppy who

145
00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,260
was so adorable and playful,
he couldn’t even finish

146
00:06:18,260 --> 00:06:19,940
describing it in one page.

147
00:06:20,310 --> 00:06:23,850
Now imagine giving something
that cute as a gift [gasps]

148
00:06:24,310 --> 00:06:26,840
—you’d definitely make
it a holiday to remember!

149
00:06:27,390 --> 00:06:28,616
[dog barks and people say “aw”]

150
00:06:28,616 --> 00:06:32,059
During Saturnalia, Romans gave
gifts to everyone—friends,

151
00:06:32,070 --> 00:06:34,159
family, even the people
who worked for them.

152
00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:36,365
[Peaceful music begins]

153
00:06:36,470 --> 00:06:38,350
The idea was simple: to
share joy and kindness.

154
00:06:39,490 --> 00:06:43,380
The best thing about Saturnalia
wasn’t how fancy the gifts were.

155
00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,630
It was that they
came from the heart.

156
00:06:46,389 --> 00:06:50,509
I think the poet Martial said
it best: “Give as you are able.”

157
00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,999
Now’s your turn to tell me about
your favorite gifts to give

158
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:56,849
this holiday and every holiday!

159
00:06:57,340 --> 00:06:58,250
Something you make?

160
00:06:58,900 --> 00:06:59,469
Something to eat?

161
00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,370
Something that
makes someone smile?

162
00:07:02,970 --> 00:07:06,330
Remember, the best gifts don’t
need to cost an arm and a leg.

163
00:07:06,710 --> 00:07:09,359
They just need a little
bit of thought—and a lot of

164
00:07:09,359 --> 00:07:10,219
love.

165
00:07:10,219 --> 00:07:12,814
[party chatter]

166
00:07:13,300 --> 00:07:17,030
Well, my little Saturnalians,
that’s our holiday gift guide!

167
00:07:18,180 --> 00:07:22,390
Whether it’s a glowing lamp, a
silly poem, or a kind note, if

168
00:07:22,710 --> 00:07:26,419
you follow my guidance, your
gifts are sure to light up the

169
00:07:26,420 --> 00:07:29,849
season—just like the Romans did
thousands and thousands of years

170
00:07:36,219 --> 00:07:36,249
ago.

171
00:07:36,340 --> 00:07:36,462
[Theme music begins]

172
00:07:36,462 --> 00:07:39,320
Host: I hope you feel
inspired to give like a Roman!

173
00:07:41,020 --> 00:07:44,300
To see photos of the doll and
more gifting inspiration from

174
00:07:44,300 --> 00:07:48,090
the Getty Villa collection,
visit the episode’s webpage at

175
00:07:48,210 --> 00:07:53,880
Getty dot edu slash podcasts or
at the link in the show notes.

176
00:07:54,380 --> 00:07:57,210
If you enjoy this show, share
it with your friends and

177
00:07:57,210 --> 00:08:00,130
leave us a comment or review
on your favorite podcast app.

178
00:08:00,670 --> 00:08:03,240
We’re also hard at
work on season two.

179
00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,339
So if you have questions or
objects you want to hear come

180
00:08:06,350 --> 00:08:11,120
alive in future episodes, write
to us or send us a voice memo

181
00:08:11,220 --> 00:08:14,470
at podteam at getty dot edu.

182
00:08:15,290 --> 00:08:18,210
This episode was written
by Tocarra Elise and

183
00:08:18,210 --> 00:08:20,030
produced by Zoe Goldman.

184
00:08:20,570 --> 00:08:22,550
Kelly Brennan voiced the doll.

185
00:08:22,959 --> 00:08:27,110
Theme music, mixing and sound
design by Alexandra Kalinowski.

186
00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,480
Christopher Sprinkle
is executive producer.

187
00:08:31,190 --> 00:08:34,730
Special thanks to Felix
Rice, as well as curators

188
00:08:34,780 --> 00:08:39,069
Ken Lapatin, Judith Barr,
and Nicole Budrovich.

189
00:08:39,940 --> 00:08:40,930
Catch you next time!