Liber ab Solemnitas (The Book of Holidays)^187
Februarius—February—Sacred to the god Mars and goddess Juno
Februarius 1 and 2 Festival day of the Juno.
Februarius 2 Sacred to Ceres.
Februarius 5 Festival day marking the beginning of Spring.
Februarius 5–7 The Fornacalia—The Feast of Ovens. Honoring the local community.
The feast moved about on the calendar from about the fifth of the month
till the seventh of the month depending on ones community needs. If
one forgot or missed his or her communities feast, there was the
Quirinalia to make up for it.
Februarius 9 Sacred to Apollo.
Februarius 12 Sacred to Diana.
Februarius 13–21 The Parentalia—Honoring dead kin, especially dead parents.
This holiday is the first of three in Februarius that seeks to honor and
sometimes appease the dead. In the case of this holiday, the focus was
on giving honors, praise, and sacrifice to departed parents and family
members. That ceremony was traditionally led by a Vestal Virgin. Cel-
ebrated with the family, traditions include visiting grave sites and mak-
ing personal sacrifice to the departed, perhaps preparing their favorite
dish and leaving it on the grave site on which animals would dine. The
first day being a private personal reflection with the rest of the week
conducted in service to the relationships with surviving family members,
knowing that they too will one day part.
Februarius 14 Festival of Juno—This day is sacred to Juno and her son Vali. With Juno’s
connection to love and her son Vali’s description as an excellent archer,
it is not hard to see where the idea of Valentine’s day finds its Pagan
roots.
Februarius 14 and 15 The Lupercalia—Honoring Lupercus (see Faunus).
On this day, animals are said to befriend humanity and offer their assis-
tance in resolving problems. I can think of no better day on which to
celebrate both kith and kin familiars.
Februarius 17 The Quirinalia—The Feast of Fools honoring Quirinus.
This holiday celebrated the larger community. Should anyone forget or
miss their local Fornacalia, they would make sacrifice at the Quirinalia.
This demonstrates the principle of community being a circle within a
circle, a large community built upon many smaller communities.
Februarius 18 Sacred to Dea Tacita (a day of silence).
Februarius 21 The Feralia—Honoring the dead. This holiday is the second of three in
Februarius that seeks to honor and sometimes appease the dead. In the
case of this holiday, the focus was on giving honors, praise, and sacri-
fice to the dead. Unlike Parentalia which honors kin and Carista which
honors kith, this holiday was held more to appease wayward spirits
that were often thought not all that fond of strangers (us). On this dayr WB Chap 10.p65 187 7/11/2003, 5:54 PM