Veneralia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Veneralia | |
| Observed by | Ancient Romans |
|---|---|
| Type | Pagan, Historical |
| Date | April 1 |
| Observances | Adornment of statues of Venus with flowers |
The Veneralia (April 1) was the Ancient Roman festival of Venus Verticordia ("Changer of hearts"), the goddess of love and beauty. The worship of the goddess Fortuna Virilis ("Bold fortune") was also part of this festival.
In Rome, women removed jewelry from the statue of the goddess, washed her, and adorned her with flowers, and similarly bathed themselves in the public baths wearing wreaths of myrtle on their heads. It was generally a day for women to seek divine help in their relations with men.
