PARENTALIA

The Parentalia was a domestic festival that honoured the families deceased ancestors

The Parentalia took place over 9 days between the 13th and 21st February. During this time people weren’t allowed to marry, temples were closed and no official business was allowed to take place. Only a blood sacrifice by a vestal virgin on the 1st day. The Parentalia festival was a domestic festival centered around family instead of the State. Ovid suggests that the dead require only small or inexpensive offerings like food or flowers. The offerings were taken to the tomb of the dead for the first 8 days of the festival and on the last day families would meet and share a meal in the home, to give an opportunity to undo any wrongs.

extra info: Muta was the goddess of the Parentalia and was made muted by Jupiter because she wouldn’t stop talking

LUMERIA

The Lumeria was a festival to help ward off evil spirits

The Lemura was held over 3 days in May: the 9th, 11th and 13th. During this time people weren’t allowed to marry, temples were closed and no official business was allowed to take place. Here’s a simplified version of Ovid’s description of the ritual.

1. make sign with thumb and closed fingers

2. cleanse hands in spring water

3. turn head away from spirit and throw beans at the spirits x 9

4. cleanse hands in spring water

5. as the spirits eat the beans, grab a bronze pan and scare them away

6. shout ‘Ancestral spirit, depart’ x 9

7. VOILA no more evil spirits 😄