Roman Holiday: Fornicalia
Happy Fornicalia!
No, it's isn't exactly what it sounds like. I will not be celebrating by fornicating. I'm actually a day late, but from what I've read of the holiday, that's ok. February 5 marks the first day of spring for the Romans, and I'm celebrating by cleaning the bathroom. Nowhere near as exciting as meaningless sex, I know, but at least I end up with a nice, sparkling clean privy.
The word February, after all, comes from the Latin februa (the means of purification). And in turn, februa comes from the Etruscan equivalent for purgamentum (purging). I choose not to barf, though.
Fornicalia, also known as Fornacalia, is celebrated in honour of the goddess Fornax. A fornax is also Latin for furnace, so the celebration is also the feast of ovens. I have already done my part by baking a delicious Devil's Food Cake. In this way, I am right on time, because Fornicalia is a moveable feast, always celebrated before February 17th. "On February 17th, if anyone had forgotten the feast or didn't remember which curiae he belonged to, he could make a private sacrifice at the Quirinalia, a general assembly of all the curiae. The Romans called the Quirinalia, the 'Feast of Fools' (from The Fornacalia."
But that's another holiday....
No, it's isn't exactly what it sounds like. I will not be celebrating by fornicating. I'm actually a day late, but from what I've read of the holiday, that's ok. February 5 marks the first day of spring for the Romans, and I'm celebrating by cleaning the bathroom. Nowhere near as exciting as meaningless sex, I know, but at least I end up with a nice, sparkling clean privy.
The word February, after all, comes from the Latin februa (the means of purification). And in turn, februa comes from the Etruscan equivalent for purgamentum (purging). I choose not to barf, though.
Fornicalia, also known as Fornacalia, is celebrated in honour of the goddess Fornax. A fornax is also Latin for furnace, so the celebration is also the feast of ovens. I have already done my part by baking a delicious Devil's Food Cake. In this way, I am right on time, because Fornicalia is a moveable feast, always celebrated before February 17th. "On February 17th, if anyone had forgotten the feast or didn't remember which curiae he belonged to, he could make a private sacrifice at the Quirinalia, a general assembly of all the curiae. The Romans called the Quirinalia, the 'Feast of Fools' (from The Fornacalia."
But that's another holiday....