Now, I know that today’s folklore is a bit of a cop out, but I’m knackered. At the moment, Other Life is licking my palms like I’m made out of ham, so I’m having a glass of wine.
Today, or hereabouts in ancient Rome, the women of the cult of Bona Dea were allowed to drink wine in her honour. This was definitely a Thing, as women were usually forbidden to drink wine. Bona Dea means Good Goddess, and both she and what was gotten up to during her celebrations, are bit of a mystery, probably because overwhelmingly all the records back then were written by men, and the cult of Bona Dea was all about the ladies.
What is known, however, is that freshly sacrificed sow innards were also served at her December ritual. But I decided to skip that part.
Don’t forget to check out today’s #FolkloreFOMO post, and let me know of any folklore you can recommend I do in the 36 days left on the project.
I’d forgotten that writing tipsy and tired made typing just a teeny bit trying. Cin cin!
Resources
Blackburn, B. and Holdford-Strevens, L. (2003) The Oxford Companion to the Year. An Exploration of Calendar Customs and Time-Reckoning, Oxford, Oxford University Press
