(^192) A Wiccan Bible
Aprilis 25 The Robigalia—Honoring Robigus and Robigo. One of the most unique
holidays of the Roman year. Robigus or maybe Robigo (one being male
and the other female) or perhaps both are the god/dess of wheat-rust,
mildew, blight and other attackers of the grain crop, but also of rust on
weapons and tools of war. On this day, the prayers were conducted ask-
ing that they bring rust onto weapons rather than on the crops. This is
perhaps a reflection on the idea that when the crops do well there is
little need for war as a source of income. Thus, the idea that plenty for
all brings peace to all. In modern context, those who oppose war might
see this as an encouragement to devote their protest efforts towards
helping to promote prosperity rather than defeat a nation’s intent on
war because with prosperity wars are often avoided.
Aprilis 28–Maius 2 The Floralia—Honoring Flora. The festival of flowers. Flora is honored
on this day with sacred theater, after which the performers were blessed
with a shower of flowers (the offerings of Flora). Originally a festival of
mild performances and games, the Floralia gradually became associated
with prostitutes who brought a sense of sexuality into both performance
and sport. Still the shower of flowers continued. Remember that many
of those prostitutes were temple virgins who had sacrificed their virgin-
ity to their patrons very recently. Without the negative associations be-
tween sex and evil that are prevalent in today’s society, the Floralia could
be seen as these women’s coming out. A statement that while they en-
tered service to their temple as a virgin, they are now sexually educated
(and thus empowered) women.
Maius—May—Sacred to the god Apollo and goddess Maia
Maius 1 Sacred to Maia.
Maius 1 Festival of Bona Dea—A festival celebration attended by only women.
In time of old, wine was brought to her temple hidden in honey pots and
referred to as milk in conversation, perhaps a deliberate misdirection or
maybe a connection to the nurturing properties of celebrations involv-
ing wine.
Maius 1 The Laribius—In honor of the Lares—A celebration of the ancestral
spirits of the community.
Maius 2 The last day of the Floralia.
Maius 9 The Lemuria—First annual feast of the lemures. There are three an-
nual feasts of the lemures. The three days are the ninth, 11th, and 13th
of Maius. The 10th and 12th are skipped because even numbers are con-
sidered unlucky. These are days to either appease the lemures or to drive
them away in fear. The Lemures are baneful spirits that pester the house-
hold.
Maius 11 Second annual feast of the Lemures honoring Larvae.
Maius 11 Sacred to Mania.
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