Roman Festivals
Festivals in Ancient Rome were an important part of religion, they had over 50 festivals a year. A festival would consist of partying, eating, drinking, sacrifices/offerings and music.
During Roman Festivals the words of the ceremonies were of vital importance as were other details such as where the festival was held and the choice of the appropriate offering again. The sex of the victim had to correspond to the sex of the deity to whom it was offered. White animals must be given to the gods of the upper world while black victims to the deities in the underworld/ground. Mars at his October festival must have his horse and Juno her goat. In the more rustic festivals such as the Parilia, the offering would be the simpler gift of millet-cakes and bowls of milk. The people who might be present in the various Roman festivals were also rigidly determined. Men were excluded from the Matronalia on March 1, from the Vestalia on the 9th of June, and from the night festival of the Bona Dea. Slaves were allowed to a share in certain festivals such as the Saturnalia and the Compitalia (the festival of the Lares), whereas at the Matralia (the festival of the matrons) a female slave was brought in with the express purpose of being significantly driven away.
Roman festivals generally divide themselves naturally into three groups:
Each group had its own rules such as in march of the spring festivals there were no agricultural festivals. There were so many festivals that I will not go into them all.
Spring:
Spring was mainly focused on Mars and military related things such as the cleansing of the shield.
Summer:
Summer was all based around agriculture and Bellona, and in one instance a pregnant cow is sacrificed.
Winter:
Winter was he shortest of festival groups and was mainly focused on agriculture, and the underworld/purification of souls.
Roman festivals generally divide themselves naturally into three groups:
- Festivals of Spring consisted of Festivals in March, April and May. Spring Festivals expressed of the hopes and fears for the growing crops and herds and the worship of Mars, God of War
- Summer, the festivals of fulfilment, including the celebration of harvest
- Winter, the festivals of sowing, of social rejoicing and in the later months anticipation of the coming year
Each group had its own rules such as in march of the spring festivals there were no agricultural festivals. There were so many festivals that I will not go into them all.
Spring:
Spring was mainly focused on Mars and military related things such as the cleansing of the shield.
Summer:
Summer was all based around agriculture and Bellona, and in one instance a pregnant cow is sacrificed.
Winter:
Winter was he shortest of festival groups and was mainly focused on agriculture, and the underworld/purification of souls.