Noun: saturnalia ,sa-tu(r)'neyl-yu [N. Amer], ,sa-tu(r)'ney-lee-u [Brit]
- A wild, drunken celebration or revelry
"The carnival was a modern saturnalia";
- debauch, riot [archaic], bacchanal, bacchanalia, drunken revelry
- An ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of Saturn, characterized by feasting, gift-giving, and temporary reversal of social roles
"The Saturnalia was known for its wild celebrations"
Derived forms: saturnalias, Saturnalias
Type of: festival, fete, fête, revel, revelry
Encyclopedia: Saturnalia