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              Media Ver (Midspring, Beltane, c. May 1)
                       Gk. To Mesoun Earos.

                       Apollonius Sophistes
                            (c) 1995

Mounukhia (Grk., c. Apr. 30)
  Ancient:  16 Mounukhion (full moon time).

This festival honors Artemis as Moon Goddess and Lady of the Beasts.  There is
a procession in which the people carry Amphiphontes (Shining-all-round), round
cakes in which dadia (little torches) are stuck, much like the cakes offered 
to Hekate; later these are offered to the Artemis with a prayer such as:

  "Artemis, Dear Mistress, to Thee I carry, Lady, this Amphiphon, and
  what shall serve as drink offering."

Some say the reason the cake is called Amphiphon, which can also mean "Shining
by Double Light," is that it is offered when the sun and moon are both 
visible.

In ancient times a she-goat was sacrificed to the Lady; now we may use cakes 
of that shape, or offer palm leaves, for the palm is sacred to Her.

This is also an appropriate time for the Arkteia (Playing the She-Bear) in 
thanks for game animals (the most important, for Neolithic tribes, being the 
bear).  The Arktoi (She-Bears) are young girls (about ten years old) who dance
naked or in short, saffron khitones (tunics); they wear leaf-crowns in their 
hair and carry torches or twigs. [LSJ s.v. amphiphon; PFA 137-9; SFA 81-8]

Festivals for Maia and Bona Dea (Rom., May 1)
  Ancient:  Kal. May (new moon).

May is under the protection of Apollo; its name is most likely from Maia, a 
Roman fertility Goddess (not to be confused with the Greek Maia, mother of 
Apollo and Artemis).  In ancient times She was offered a pregnant sow on this 
day, which was also an appropriate sacrifice for Terra (Earth), and shows the 
close connection of the two Goddesses.

Bona Dea (Good Goddess) or Fauna, who may be identical to Maia, is an Earth 
Goddess responsible for the fertility of women; men are excluded from Her 
worship, and myrtle is not allowed in the temple because Faunus, Her father, 
beat Her with a myrtle-rod.  The Goddess's image is decorated with 
vine-leaves.  The women bring wine, which they call lac (milk), in mellaria 
(honey pots) to Her temple, where all manner of herbs are kept, as well as 
snakes.  This shows a connection with the healing arts, and Bona Dea is 
identified with Greek Agathe Dea (Good Goddess), who is related to Hugieia 
(Health).  In ancient times a sow was sacrificed to Her, now a sow-shaped 
cake.  A connection to Demeter (who was also offered sows) is shown by the 
name Damia for Bona Dea (the priestess was called Damiatrix and the sow 
Damium).
[OF p. 423; SFR 116-7]

Lemuria (Rom., May 9, 11, 13)
  Ancient:  VII, V, III Id. Mar.

These rites banish the Lemures, potentially hostile ancestral spirits, 
especially the restless ghosts of those who died untimely.  The rites are 
performed on odd-numbered days, because even-numbered days are unlucky.

This is the procedure:  The head of the family rises at midnight.  He is 
barefoot; no knots constrict his feet.  He makes la mano fico -- the sign of 
the fig (closed fingers, thumb between first and second fingers) -- to ward 
away any spirits.  He washes his hands in clean spring water.  With averted 
eyes he throws beans (which the dead favor) to the spirits, saying:

  "Haec ego mitto, his redimo meque meosque fabis."
  "These I cast; with these beans I redeem both me and mine."

Thrice three times he does this, never looking back, for the spirits follow 
behind.  Then he washes again, clashes objects of bronze, and says thrice 
three times:

  "Manes exite paterni!"
  "Manes of my ancestors, begone!"

Then it is safe to look back, for the banishing is complete. [OF V.429-444, 
pp. 424-5]

Thargelia (Grk., c. May 21)
  Ancient:  7 Thargelion (first quarter).

The Thargelia, which is probably identical to the ancient Thalusia 
(First-fruit Offering), is a harvest festival celebrated when the corn is 
threshed.  Although in many cases the time varies from farm to farm, and 
coincides with the actual completion of the harvest (May or June), since it is
a festival for Apollo (as a guardian of crops), it nominally occurs on the 
seventh day, His birthday.  It has two parts, purification and offering.

The sixth day (the birthday of His sister, Artemis) is a day of purification, 
and two (preferably unattractive) men, the Pharmakoi (Scape-Goats), who have 
been fed by the people, are led around the city, and then driven away by 
fig-branches and (poisonous) squill-bulbs (used for purification).  One 
Pharmakos wears a necklace of black figs, which represent the men of the city,
and the other wears one of white figs, representing the women.

The following day is for a first-fruits offering to the God; the Thargelos is 
made by boiling corn and other vegetables in a pot.  There are separate hymn 
singing contests for men's and boys' choirs; the winners receive a tripod, 
which they then dedicated to the God.  [NFR 24, 26; PFA 147-9]

                         Lesser Festivals

Cerialia (Rom., Apr 19)
  Ancient:  XIII Kal. May.

Country folk make offerings of spelt (a kind of wheat) and salt, perhaps in 
the form of mola salsa (sacrificial cakes), to Ceres, and pour libations of 
milk, honey and wine.  [SFR 103]

Floralia (Rom., Apr. 28)
  Ancient:  IV Kal. May (dark of moon).

This was a spring-time fertility festival for Mater Flora (Mother Flora), the 
flower and vegetation Goddess recognized from the most ancient times.  People 
wear gayly colored clothes and there are lights everywhere to go with the 
bright colors of the flowers in the fields.  Tables are decorated with roses 
and revellers wear garlands.  Hares and goats -- both known for their 
fertility -- are released to run free, and vetches, beans and lupins are 
thrown among the people to confer fertility.  This is also a time of rude 
entertainment and sexual license.  [OF V.321-374; SFR 110-1]

Festival for Maia and Mercury (Rom., May 15)
  Ancient:  Id. May (full moon).

The Ides of May are Mercury's birthday, and so He and His mother, Maia, are 
celebrated on this day.  Devotees of Mercury, especially merchants, draw 
sacred water from the Aqua Mercurii (a spring) into fumigated jugs.  They dip 
laurel branches into this water and sprinkle it over their goods and their own
hair while praying for future success in their endeavors.  This day is also 
sacred to Jupiter, as are the Ides of every month.  [SFR 122]