Sementivae

{{Short description|Religious observance in ancient Rome}} '''Sementivae''', also known as '''Feriae Sementivae''' or '''Sementina dies''' (in the country called '''Paganalia'''), was a [[Roman festival]] of [[sowing]].

It was a type of ''[[feriae conceptivae]]'' [or ''conceptae'']. These free days were held every year, but not on certain or fixed days, the time being every year appointed by the magistrates or priests (''quotannis a magistratibus vel sacerdotibus concipiuntur'').<ref>[[Macrobius]] l. c.; [[Marcus Terentius Varro|Varro]], ''On the Latin Language in 25 Books,'' vi. 25, etc.; [[Sextus Pompeius Festus|Festus]] s. v.).</ref>

It was held in honor of [[Ceres (Roman mythology)|Ceres]] (the goddess of agriculture) and [[Terra (goddess)|Tellus]] (Mother Earth). The initial half of the event was a festival in honor of [[Terra (mythology)|Tellus]] which ran from January 24 through January 26. The festival honoring Ceres occurred one week later, starting February 2. The ''Sementina dies'' were kept in seed-time at Rome for the purpose of praying for a good crop; it lasted only for one day, which was fixed by the pontiffs.<ref>Varro ''On the Latin Language in 25 Books,'' vi. 26, ''de Re Rustica,'' i. 2, init.; [[Ovid]], ''On the Roman Calendar,'' i. 658, etc.)</ref> At the same time the Paganalia were observed in the country.<ref>Merkel, [[Ovid]], ''On the Roman Calendar,'' p. clv.</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist|30em}}

==References== {{refbegin}} * ''This entry incorporates public domain text originally from'' (eds. William Smith, LLD, William Wayte, G. E. Marindin), ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities'', Albemarle Street, London. John Murray. 1890. {{refend}}

[[Category:Ancient Roman festivals]] [[Category:January observances]] [[Category:February observances]] [[Category:Festivals of Demeter]] [[Category:Ceres (mythology)]]