With glowing torches, costumed legionaries, street performances and nods to Roman merrymaking, the city is leaning into its history as the Roman fortress of Deva Victrix.
It makes for a dramatic, atmospheric spectacle... but it has also sparked questions.
Is this a festive masterstroke, or a confusing diversion from Christmas? And what do faith leaders make of it?
A City with Roman Roots
Chester’s Roman heritage is everywhere, the walls, the amphitheatre, the miniature fort remains beneath the modern streets. Local tourism promoters have seized on this, presenting Saturnalia as a way to offer something unique during the winter season.
Events include:
Roman parades through the city centre
Storytelling and reenactments about ancient winter customs
Temporary displays explaining the roots of Saturnalia
Family-friendly craft sessions and history workshops
It certainly adds colour and attracts visitors, particularly those interested in heritage tourism.
What Exactly Is Saturnalia?
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival honouring Saturn, the god of agriculture and renewal. Held in mid-December, it was a time of role-reversal, gift-giving, feasting, loosening of social norms and widespread revelry.
Some historians consider it a forerunner to certain Christmas customs, feasting, greenery, candles and gift-giving among them.
Chester’s tourism board emphasises the educational side: understanding how winter festivals evolved and how early Christian traditions emerged within the wider Roman world.
Is Celebrating Saturnalia a Good Thing?
It depends whom you ask.
Pros:
Boosts local tourism and footfall during the crucial Christmas shopping season.
Creates a distinctive winter event that sets Chester apart from other cities.
Encourages learning, especially for children, about Roman Britain.
Adds vibrancy to the streets during the darker winter weeks.
Potential downsides:
Some worry it may confuse or overshadow traditional Christmas celebrations.
Others feel it may be an attempt to appear “edgy” for the sake of marketing rather than meaning.
A minority view it as commercialising ancient spirituality in a way that doesn’t respect either historic Saturnalia or Christian tradition.
Overall, for most residents and visitors it appears to be taken in good humour — another colourful way to enjoy the season.
What Do Christian Leaders Think?
Reactions from Christian clergy in and around Chester have been varied but mostly measured.
Supportive or Neutral View
Several church leaders have expressed that learning about ancient history is not inherently problematic. They point out:
Christmas has incorporated many older traditions over the centuries.
Understanding Saturnalia can strengthen appreciation for how Christian celebrations evolved.
The festival does not replace church services nor Christian celebrations taking place throughout December.
Some clergy have even said that anything which brings people together peacefully at this time of year is welcome, provided Christmas itself is not diminished.
Critical or Cautious View
A few ministers, particularly within more conservative denominations, have raised concerns:
That reviving a pagan festival at Christmas might blur religious lines, especially for young people.
That the commercialisation of something historically religious could trivialise both ancient beliefs and modern faith.
That the city should ensure the celebration does not come across as a replacement for Christmas or frame Christianity as a mere historical afterthought.
However, even among critics, the tone has been more questioning than confrontational. Chester’s churches remain fully engaged with Advent and Christmas outreach, and many plan events specifically highlighting the Christian message of the season.
Can Saturnalia and Christmas Coexist?
In practice, they already do, and peacefully. Chester’s Saturnalia celebration is not a religious revival but a cultural and historic re-enactment. V
isitors can enjoy Roman parades in the afternoon and attend a carol service at the cathedral in the evening.
For most residents, the two festivals serve different purposes:
Saturnalia adds colour, theatre and historical flair.
Christmas provides spiritual grounding, community, tradition and celebration.
Chester has simply chosen to embrace both, one as heritage, the other as living faith.
Whether you see it as harmless fun or slightly peculiar, Chester’s Saturnalia festivities undeniably bring people into the city at a time when local businesses need it most. The key is balance: celebrating history without undermining the meaning of Christmas for those who observe it.
So is Saturnalia in Chester a good thing?
As long as it complements rather than competes with Christmas, many in the city seem to think so. And for visitors, it’s yet another reason to enjoy one of Britain’s most beautiful historic cities during the festive season.
