By Pat Regan
February can be a frosty
unwelcoming month when little seems to stir in the natural world.
This cold period takes its name
from the Etruscan god of the underworld and purifications, Februus.
This deity
is often equated with the Greek god Pluto/Hades and also the Gallic god of
riches, Dis, who further links with the Roman Orcus. On the 17th or 21st day of
February Februus was venerated during a feast known as the Feralia. All through
this event marriages were not allowed, all other shrines and temples of other gods
were closed and gifts were taken to the final resting places of deceased
relatives/friends.
SOULS OF THE DEAD
The Manes (souls of the
departed) were believed by the Romans to hover around the monuments and graves
of the deceased, hence the presents served as a symbol of respect and
propitiation for these spirits.
The Manes held much power in
the underworld and because of this the Romans realised that only a fool would
fail to give them the reverence they so rightly deserved.
Modern man can learn a lot
about his/her subliminal fears of death and dying by relating intimately to
this ancient festival. The number three was considered sacred to the Manes and
because of this they were always invoked three times by adherents. Could the
old maxim of three being "unlucky/lucky for some" have a connection
here?
Gravestones were frequently
inscribed with the prefix D.M. meaning Di Manes (or Di-Manibus) which is Latin
for the "Good Gods." The celebration of the Feralia was also called
the Februa.
The great and influential goddess, Juno, was however frequently invoked under the title of Juno Februtis. This sees her as a purifier and fertility goddess linked to the month of February. Her fertility aspects also equate somewhat with the Celtic goddess Brigit, who stands as patroness for this task too. As a deity of childbirth Juno would become Juno Lucina.
Contemporary man would probably
feel a lot more at one with himself and his environment too if he took a page
from the wisdom of the Feralia!
Modern Pagan folk also celebrate Imbolc (Imbolg) at the beginning of February. The festival marks the start of spring has
been celebrated since primordial times.
It is a Cross Quarter Day forming a midpoint
between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, it can fall between the 2nd
& 7th of February when calculated as the midpoint between the astronomical
Winter Solstice and the astronomical Spring Equinox.
I personally know it’s ‘that’ time when I
see the little snowdrops peeping through the hard, frosty, earth.
Pat Regan ©
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Now on UFO Digest
http://ufodigest.com/content/february-month-spirits-and-mist
Now on UFO Digest
http://ufodigest.com/content/february-month-spirits-and-mist
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