Ferālia was an ancient Roman public festival celebrating the Manes (Roman spirits of the dead, especially the souls of deceased people) that fell on February 21, as recorded by Ovid in the book II of his Fasti. This day marked the end of Parentalia, a nine-day festival (February 13-21) honoring deceased ancestors.
Ferālia, in honor of the Manes
Roman citizens were ordered to bring offerings to the graves of their deceased ancestors that consisted of at least "an arrangement of wreaths, a pinch of grain and a little salt, bread soaked in wine, and scattered violets." Additional offerings were permitted, but the dead were appeased only with the above. These simple offerings to the dead may have been introduced to Latium by Aeneas, who poured wine and scattered violets on the tomb of Anchises.
Ovid tells of a time when the Romans, in the midst of war, neglected Feralia, which caused the spirits of the deceased to rise from their graves in anger, howling and wandering the streets. After this event, tributes were then paid to the tombs and the horrible hauntings ceased.
To indicate public mourning, marriages of any kind were forbidden on the Feralia, and Ovid urged mothers, wives, and widows to refrain from lighting their wedding torches. Magistrates ceased to wear their regalia, and all worship of the gods was forbidden as it "should be hidden behind the closed doors of the temple; no incense on the altar, no fire on the hearth."
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On this day, the Romans honored the Manes during the last day of Parentalia, Ferālia. Offerings were placed on the tombs of the ancestors in order to appease the Manes and prevent them from haunting the streets. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #February 21 #feralia #parentalia #rome
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