The Roman festival of Larentalia was held on 23 December but was ordered to be observed twice a year by Augustus; by some supposed to be in honour of the Lares, [1] [2] a kind of domestic genii, or divinities, worshipped in houses, and esteemed the guardians and protectors of families, supposed to reside in chimney-corners. [3] Others have attributed this feast in honour of Acca Larentia, the nurse of Romulus and Remus, and wife of Faustulus. [4] [5] [6] During this festival, offerings were made to the dead, [7] [8] usually at altars dedicated to Acca Larentia. [9] A sacrifice was typically offered in the Velabrum, [10] the spot where Acca Larentia is buried. [11] [12] Larentalia was part of a series of ancient Roman festivals and holidays celebrating the end of the old year and the start of the new. [13] [14]
The Roman festival of Larentalia was held on 23 December but was ordered to be observed twice a year by Augustus; by some supposed to be in honour of the Lares, [1] [2] a kind of domestic genii, or divinities, worshipped in houses, and esteemed the guardians and protectors of families, supposed to reside in chimney-corners. [3] Others have attributed this feast in honour of Acca Larentia, the nurse of Romulus and Remus, and wife of Faustulus. [4] [5] [6] During this festival, offerings were made to the dead, [7] [8] usually at altars dedicated to Acca Larentia. [9] A sacrifice was typically offered in the Velabrum, [10] the spot where Acca Larentia is buried. [11] [12] Larentalia was part of a series of ancient Roman festivals and holidays celebrating the end of the old year and the start of the new. [13] [14]