Get Crafty with These Roman-Inspired Holiday DIYs

Giving thoughtful presents to friends and family is a hallmark of the winter holiday season and has been for thousands of years.

For Romans celebrating Saturnalia, a week-long winter festival, gifts were key. The poet Martial even wrote 223 satirical poems to accompany some common Saturnalia offerings. I love this slightly ominous note for a wooden candlestick: "You see that I am a piece of wood; unless you are careful of the flame, a great lamp will be made out of your candlestick.”

This holiday season on If Objects Could Talk, we took inspiration from the Romans for “Your Ultimate Saturnalia Gift Guide.” The family-friendly podcast series showcases works of art from the Getty collection coming alive to share stories about how they were made and used. In this Saturnalia gifting special, a Roman doll lists several funny, historically informed, and almost practical holiday offerings. From lamps and hairpins to sweet cakes to books, I’d love to receive many of the items Romans gave!

Now, our Saturnalia present to you are these three DIY tutorials for Roman-inspired gifts that anyone can make. (You can also find these in the episode’s listening guide.) These are perfect for people looking to keep kids busy this holiday season, homebodies searching for something to do on a cozy night in, or procrastinators desperate for last-minute host gift ideas. For added fun, put on the podcast while you craft!

1. A Gift to Light Up the Night: Decoupaged Tea Light Holder

Saturnalia took place around the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, so lamps, candles, and other presents to light up the dark were popular.

Our first Saturnalia gift is a decoupaged tea light holder.

Materials

• Assorted tissue paper or other decorative paper
• Foam brush or paintbrush
• Mod Podge (or white glue thinned with water)
• Small glass or plastic jar, well cleaned (baby food jars work well)
• Battery-operated tea light candle

Instructions

1. Tear or cut tissue paper or other decorative paper into small pieces.
2. Using the foam brush or paintbrush, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge or glue to a section of the jar.
3. Press and smooth pieces of paper onto that part of the jar, overlapping them slightly.
4. Continue adding Mod Podge or glue and pieces of paper until the jar is covered.
5. Brush a final layer of Mod Podge or glue over the entire jar to seal the work and give it a glossy finish.
6. Let dry for at least 30 minutes.
7. Place a battery-operated tea light candle inside the jar for a glowing Saturnalia-inspired lamp.
8. Other inspiration: Elevate your look by adding pressed leaves and flowers, or make it wintry with white glitter or Epsom salt. You can also cut your decorative paper into fun shapes like stars, triangles, or hearts.
9. Optional: Finish by tying a ribbon, sprig of berries, fir branch, or gift tag around the rim of the jar.

2. Gag Gift: Silly Poetry Scroll

Saturnalia could also be a playful holiday, where people swapped roles and played with societal rules of fashion and behavior. And they liked to give funny presents. The Roman poet Catullus wrote of a gift of bad poetry he received from a friend. In return, Catullus went shopping for even worse poetry to give back to his friend.

Take inspiration from this story and write your own intentionally bad or silly poems on old-looking tea-dyed paper. Want to write a good poem instead? There’s precedent for that too. Martial’s epigrams also list volumes like Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Homer’s Iliad. You’re going to need a lot of paper for something that ambitious!

Materials

• Black tea bags (2 or 3)
• 1 cup hot water
• Sheet of paper
• Baking sheet or tray
• Sponge or brush
• Marker or pen
• Ribbon or string

Instructions

1. Brew strong tea using 2 or 3 tea bags in 1 cup of hot water (adult supervision suggested). Let the tea steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Place a sheet of paper on a baking sheet or tray.
3. Use a sponge or brush to apply tea evenly across the paper for an aged look. For darker spots, dab extra tea in certain areas.
4. Let the paper air-dry for 1 to 2 hours.
5. Once dry, write a silly poem on the tea-dyed paper with a marker or pen.
6. Roll the paper into a scroll and tie it with a ribbon or string.
7. Mix it up: Write a selection of poems (your favorites, seasonal, silly, etc.) on scrolls and use them at place settings for a holiday meal, compose your own epigrams to use as gift tags on our other gifts, or decorate your home with holiday poems.

3. For the Foodies: Spiced Nuts

Food gifts are always popular, and the Romans loved to eat. With vast networks of trade, they had access to a wide variety of ingredients and spices, including cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom.

These spiced nuts are quick and easy to make, but the recipe does involve a stove, so adult supervision is recommended for young chefs.

Materials

• Large baking sheet
• Silicone baking mat or parchment paper
• Large skillet
• ½ cup granulated or brown sugar
• ¼ cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons of spices like ground cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, or others you enjoy. Mix and match!
• 2 cups unsalted nuts (almonds, pecans, and/or walnuts)
• Wooden spoon
• Spatula
• Small gift bags or jars

Instructions

1. Line a large baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
2. In a large skillet, combine ½ cup granulated or brown sugar, ¼ cup water, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons spices. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
3. Add 2 cups unsalted nuts. Cook the mixture (with adult supervision) until it becomes stringy and then crystallizes onto the nuts. Stir with a long-handled wooden spoon throughout the process.
4. Pour the nuts onto the large baking sheet and spread them out with a spatula. Let cool (about 15 minutes).
5. Package into small gift bags or jars.
6. Try new flavor combos: Use vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and cayenne for Mexican chocolate; smoked paprika and a little chili powder for BBQ; or gingerbread or pumpkin spice blends to evoke other holiday treats.

Can’t get enough history-inspired DIYs? Every episode of If Objects Could Talk comes with a listening guide full of even more crafts, activities, and discussion prompts based on the episodes. Find links to these guides and more at the bottom of the podcast's episode pages.