Their story
On the Ides of March, once the start of the Roman year, crowds went to her grove by the Tiber at the first milestone of the Via Flaminia, picnicked in the open, and drank as many cups as the years they hoped to live. Ovid gives several stories of who she was, including Anna, sister of Dido, who fled to Italy, and an old woman of Bovillae who fed the plebs when they left Rome. In 1999 her sacred spring was found in Rome with lamps, coins and curse tablets.
Best times to give to them
- Her festival, Ides of March (15 March)
What they like being given
- A picnic shared outdoors
- Water or wine
- Bread or cakes
How to honour them
- Hold a picnic by a river on 15 March.
- Drink one sip for each year of life you wish for.
- Toast the year ahead with friends.
How they can help you
- Long life
- Celebration
- Marking the old new year
Symbols
- cup
- spring
- grove
- bread
The curse tablets from her spring show private magic, which is not recommended here.
Sources
- Ovid, Fasti 3
- Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.12.6
- Martial, Epigrams 4.64
More Roman goddesses
- Juno Queen of heaven and protector of women
- Minerva Patron of craftworkers, teachers and healers
- Venus Mother of the Roman people and goddess of love
- Diana Lady of the woodland grove and the moon
- Vesta The living flame at the heart of home and Rome
- Ceres Mother of the grain and friend of the common people
- Luna The moon, shining through the night
- Libera Partner of Liber in the Aventine triad