About
The Thesmophoria was a festival for Demeter Thesmophoros and Persephone, kept only by married women and one of the most widespread festivals in the Greek world. In Athens its three days were the Ascent, the Fast and the Kalligeneia, the day of Fair Birth. The remains of piglets placed in pits earlier in the year were brought up and laid on the altars, then mixed with seed grain to bless the sowing.
Customs
- Women gathering apart from men for three days
- Fasting on the middle day, remembering Demeter's grief for Persephone
- Sleeping on beds of plant matter such as agnus castus
- Joking and ribald talk, recalling Iambe who made Demeter laugh
- Blessing the seed for the autumn sowing
Food
- Pomegranates
- Barley and wheat
- Sesame and honey cakes
- Figs
A simple ritual
- Gather with women friends if you wish, or keep the day quietly alone.
- Light a candle safely and honour Demeter and Persephone.
- Hold a handful of seeds or grain and bless them for the growing year.
- Share a pomegranate or honey cakes and tell stories or jokes, as Iambe did.
- Plant or scatter the seeds outside and put out the candle.
Never leave candles or fires unattended, and keep them away from pets and children.
Who is honoured
- Demeter Mother of the grain and the harvest
- Persephone Queen of the underworld and the returning spring