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| Color of the day: Amber
Incense of the day: Poplar This is the ancient Roman holiday of Lupercalia, a festival in honor of the god Lupercalus, also known as Faunus. He aided the growth of crops and the well-being of animal herds, and he kept wolves away from the livestock. During Lupercalia two groups of young men were chosen to participate in the main ritual. They met in a grotto or cave on the Palatine Hill outside of Rome. There, they sacrificed goats and a dog and fashioned whips and loincloths from the skins. They set out wearing the loincloths and brandishing the whips. First, they ran a few circuits around the Palatine Hill to sanctify it, then they ran through Rome. They whipped anyone in their way. Strangely, it was considered lucky to be touched by the whips. Afterward, there were feasts and parties throughout Rome. Lupercalia was one of the most famous of all Roman festivals. |
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