Why was floralia held in the spring

In the Circus Maximus, deer and hares, symbols of fertility, were let loose in honor of the goddess as protector of gardens and fields but not of woods and wild animals and, instead of the customary white, colorful garments were worn during the festivities, some of which were celebrated at night Ovid, Fasti , IV. Chickpeas garbanzo beans, another symbol of fertility also were thrown to the people in the Circus Persius, Satires , V.

Valerius Maximus II. Rather than interfere with the festivities, Cato the Younger , who was in attendance, walked out. The audience followed him, applauding the fact that, although disgusted and embarrassed, Cato choose to leave rather than have his presence inhibit the performance.

They then went back inside. Martial is not so forgiving of such hypocritical morality, declaring in the preface to his first book of epigrams that they are written for those who are accustomed to watching the Floralia , not for the likes of Cato, who cannot be so naive as not to have known what to expect when he choose to attend "sprightly Flora's ritual fun, the festal jests and license of the rout.

Writing in the decade after the Diocletian persecution AD , Lactantius, a younger contemporary of Valerius, has his own notion as to the origins of the festival. And because this appeared disgraceful to the senate, in order that a kind of dignity might be given to a shameful matter, they resolved that an argument should be taken from the name itself.

They pretended that she was the goddess who presides over flowers, and that she must be appeased, that the crops, together with the trees or vines, might produce a good and abundant blossom.

The poet [ Ovid ] followed up this idea in his Fasti, and related that there was a nymph, by no means obscure, who was called Chloris, and that, on her marriage with Zephyrus, she received from her husband as a wedding gift the control over all flowers.

These things are spoken with propriety, but to believe them is unbecoming and shameful. The Ludi Florales included theatrical entertainment, including mimes, naked actresses, and prostitutes. In the Renaissance, some writers thought that Flora had been a human prostitute who was turned into a goddess, possibly because of the licentiousness of the Ludi Florales or because, according to David Lupher, Flora was a common name for prostitutes in ancient Rome. The celebration in honor of Flora included floral wreaths worn in the hair much like modern participants in May Day celebrations.

After the theatrical performances, the celebration continued in the Circus Maximus, where animals were set free and beans scattered to ensure fertility. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. The Floralia was a time of great merriment and celebration. During this time, more latitude was given to engage in activities which otherwise would have been frowned upon. The Floralia was intended to be a day for fun and celebration, and the whole population as encouraged to lighten up and loosen up.

Dining tables were covered with rose petals, people wore bright boldly-patterned clothes to mimic the vibrant rainbow of flower petals, and they wore garlands of flowers around their heads. There was dancing in the streets and a great deal excessive drinking!

It was a day that the wine god Bacchus himself would have reveled in. After all, Ovid quipped, Bacchus loves flowers and he was often seen wearing crowns of them A scene from a s Xerox commercial showing an Olympian god wearing a tie-dyed toga, claiming he needs more color in his life. During the Floralia festival, he would have fit right in. In the words of the poet Juvenal…. How can you call her decent, a helmeted woman who spurns her very own gender?

Yet these are the girls who sweat in the thinnest dress, whose delicate skins are chafed by the smoothest wisps of silk. As far as Ovid was concerned, all of this was perfectly natural. Surely, for a such a light-hearted and care-free goddess as Flora, dour solemnity would be banned on her feast days. The sexual licentiousness associated with the Floralia festival might also have social connections with the pagan calendars of the Romans and Celts. In the Celtic world during May, marriage vows were temporarily suspended and people were given full permission to have affairs with whomever they wished.

Men and women got their rocks off as if there was no tomorrow in the hope that their raging horniness would encourage flowers to bloom and crops to grow Beast hunts were held in the Circus Maximus on the last day of the celebration on May 3.

Hunting rabbits, deer, wild goats, and other herbivorous animals was encouraged on this day, but the hunting of predatory animals such as lions, wolves, foxes, and bears was not.

They devoured and destroyed acres of crops, and ate the green shoots before they had a chance to blossom and fruit. However, since creatures like lions and wolves did not eat grain, fruits, or flowers, they were no threat to farmers, and therefore could be left alone for today So on April 28 to May 3, go crazy!

Lighten up, loosen up, and live it up! Put some flowers in your hair and wear outrageously colorful clothing.

Eat, drink, and be merry, and enjoy the joys of life. Categories: History , Uncategorized. Tags: ancient , anthropology , April , Bacchus , calendar , Ceres , festival , Floralia , history , hunt , hunter , hunters , hunting , Kalends , May , religion , Roman , Roman Empire , Rome.

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