"FLORA" IS THE ROMAN GODDESS OF FLOWERS AND YOUTHFUL PLEASURES. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL AND SERENE GODDESS, THE QUEEN OF SPRING. SHE IS USUALLY DEPICTED AS WEARING LIGHT SPRING CLOTHING, HOLDING A SMALL BOUQUET, AND CROWNED WITH BLOSSOMS. SHE IS ESPECIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH VINES, FRUIT TREES, AND HONEY-BEARING PLANTS. SHE WAS MARRIED TO FAVONIUS, THE WIND GOD, AND HER COMPANION WAS HERCULES. FLORA SYMBOLIZES THE FLOWERING OF NATURE, AND IS CELEBRATED BY WOMEN HONORING THEIR BODIES IN THEIR NATURAL STATE. SHE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE ROMANS, FOR WITHOUT HER, THE CITY WOULD NOT GROW AND THRIVE.SHE MAKES HER APPEARANCE IN APRIL WITH A FESTIVAL THAT SYMBOLIZES THE RENEWAL OF THE CYCLE OF LIFE.
FLORALIA WAS A TIME OF GREAT MERRIMENT AND REJOICING. IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF NATURE IN FULL BLOSSOM, A FESTIVAL OF SEXUAL FUN AND LIBERTY. IT WAS A FERTILITY RITE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SISTERS, FLORA AND FAUNA...FLORA FOR THE BIRTH OF FLOWERS AND FAUNA FOR THE BIRTH OF THE SPRING LAMBS AND OTHER ANIMALS. BEANS AND OTHER SEEDS WERE PLANTED REPRESENTING FECUNDITY. IT WAS A TIME OF GAMES, FARCES, AND MIMES. PROSTITUTES IN PARTICULAR ENJOYED THIS FESTIVAL FOR FLORA WAS THEIR PATRON GODDESS; THEY PARTICIPATED IN MANY EVENTS AND PERFORMED NAKED IN THE THEATER. ROMANS CAST OFF THEIR ORDINARY WHITE ROBES WERE CAST OFF, AND THEY ADORNED THEMSELVES IN THEIR BRIGHTEST CLOTHES AND DECKED THEMSELVES OUT IN FLOWERS. OFFERINGS OF MILK AND HONEY WERE MADE TO FLORA. GOATS AND HARES WERE LET LOOSE FOR THEY REPRESENTED FERTILITY.
"YOU START IN APRIL AND CROSS TO THE TIME OF MAY ONE HAS YOU AS IT LEAVES, ONE AS IT COMES. SINCE THE EDGES OF THESE MONTHS ARE YOURS AND DEFER TO YOU, EITHER OF THEM SUITS YOUR PRAISES. THE CIRCUS CONTINUES AND THE THEATER'S LAUDED PALM. LET THIS SONG, TOO, JOIN IN THE CIRCUS SPECTACLE".--OVID
AS ROME CONQUERED MANY COUNTRIES, THE FESTIVAL OF FLORALIA SPREAD...ESPECIALLY IN BRITAIN. EACH COUNTRY ADDED THEIR OWN SPECIAL TOUCHES TO THE FESTIVITIES...AND, EVENTUALLY, FLORALIA BECAME KNOWN AS WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS MAY DAY, A WAY OF WELCOMING SPRING AFTER THE LONG, DARK WINTER. SO, IT IS A TIME OF REJOICING, A CELEBRATION OF LIFE. GIVE THANKS FOR LIFE IN BLOOM ALL AROUND YOU.
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