Also called Ceres Mater, Demeter (Greek).
Their story
Ovid tells that when Pluto took her daughter Proserpina, Ceres lit two pine torches in the fires of Etna and searched the whole world for her. Her temple on the Aventine, shared with Liber and Libera, was a centre of the plebeian people of Rome and held their records.
Their day
Saturday. In modern practice, some give Ceres Saturday, the day of Saturn, the Roman god of sowing.
Best times to give to them
- the Cerealia, 12 to 19 April
- the harvest
- sowing time
- when baking bread
What they like being given
- spelt or wheat
- grains of salt
- incense
- bread
- milk and honey
- first fruits
How to honour them
- Offer Ceres spelt, a few grains of salt and incense, which Ovid says please her.
- Bake bread during the Cerealia and give her the first slice.
- Give food to a food bank in her name.
- Thank her before meals for the grain that feeds you.
How they can help you
- abundance and food security
- growing and gardening
- motherhood
- fairness for ordinary people
- hard work bearing fruit
Symbols
- wheat ears
- torches
- poppies
- basket of fruit
- sickle
Herbs linked with them
- Poppy Papaver rhoeas
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
- Luna The moon, shining through the night
- Libera Partner of Liber in the Aventine triad
- Proserpina Queen of the underworld and the returning spring