These roles had special significance for the king whose household represented the fortunes of the entire people. Under the direction of the priests there would be re-created the story of the creation of the world, at the end of which the king was supposed to die so as to accompany Marduk into the underworld and battle at his side. At the same time, it was also tradition for another criminal to be set free. Another of the traditions was the festival called Zagmuk. It included huge bonfires and burning of Marduk's enemy in effigy.
Bonfires are a logical development it seems of a festival held during the waning of the light.
It was this festival also which seems to have inaugurated the exchange of gifts. In Persia and Babylon, the festival was called Sacaea. This appears to be the original tradition in which masters and slaves traded roles and in which one of the slaves was appointed head of the household. As played out in ancient Babylon, in proper season the king would repair to the temple dedicated to Marduk, be stripped of his insignia by the chief priest and swear that in the past year he had done nothing wrong. The chief priest then would speak for Marduk and re-invest the king with his kingdom.