saturnalian
Marked by revelry
Saturnalian describes wild, unrestrained revelry—the kind of celebration where normal rules are suspended and excess is encouraged.
The word comes from the ancient Roman festival of Saturn, when social hierarchies inverted, slaves dined with masters, and general license prevailed: The office party descended into saturnalian chaos.
Often lowercase.
Lively, cheerful celebration
- feastingEating sumptuously together
- carousingBoisterous drinking spree
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
- festivityCelebratory occasion or mood
carnival · banquet · conviviality · gaiety · frolic · jubilation · mirth · gala
Inverted or disordered
- upside-downReversed in vertical orientation
- misruleInept or unjust governing
- subversionUndermining established authority
- transgressionViolation of law or code
taboo-breaking · hierarchy · equality · freedom · liberation · unshackling · carnival · anarchy
Pursuit of gratification
- indulgenceYielding to desire
- debaucheryExtreme indulgence in vices
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
- profligacyReckless, wasteful extravagance
gluttony · intemperance · extravagance · opulence · decadence · overindulgence · luxury · abandon
merrymaking
Lively, cheerful celebration
- feastingEating sumptuously together
- carousingBoisterous drinking spree
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
festivity · carnival · banquet · conviviality · gaiety · frolic · jubilation · mirth · gala · wassail
topsy-turvy
Inverted or disordered
- upside-downReversed in vertical orientation
- misruleInept or unjust governing
- subversionUndermining established authority
transgression · taboo-breaking · hierarchy · equality · freedom · liberation · unshackling · carnival · anarchy · chaos
hedonism
Pursuit of gratification
- indulgenceYielding to desire
- debaucheryExtreme indulgence in vices
- dissipationGradual loss or scattering
profligacy · gluttony · intemperance · extravagance · opulence · decadence · overindulgence · luxury · abandon · wantonness
December
Year's final month
pileus · candles · gifts · masters · slaves · Latin · Roman · pagan · winter · ancient
saturnaliansomber
Gravely serious in mood
funereal · solemn · mournful · depressive · lugubrious
saturnalianorderly
Arranged with care
regimented · decorous · ceremonious · conventional · proper