# Sementivae

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Religious observance in ancient Rome

**Sementivae**, also known as **Feriae Sementivae** or **Sementina dies** (in the country called **Paganalia**), was a [Roman festival](/source/Roman_festival) of [sowing](/source/Sowing).

It was a type of *[feriae conceptivae](/source/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*).[1]

It was held in honor of [Ceres](/source/Ceres_(Roman_mythology)) (the goddess of agriculture) and [Tellus](/source/Terra_(goddess)) (Mother Earth). The initial half of the event was a festival in honor of [Tellus](/source/Terra_(mythology)) 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.[2] At the same time the Paganalia were observed in the country.[3]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Macrobius](/source/Macrobius) l. c.; [Varro](/source/Marcus_Terentius_Varro), *On the Latin Language in 25 Books,* vi. 25, etc.; [Festus](/source/Sextus_Pompeius_Festus) s. v.).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Varro *On the Latin Language in 25 Books,* vi. 26, *de Re Rustica,* i. 2, init.; [Ovid](/source/Ovid), *On the Roman Calendar,* i. 658, etc.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Merkel, [Ovid](/source/Ovid), *On the Roman Calendar,* p. clv.

## References

- *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.

v t e Roman festivals and games (ludi) Agonalia Ambarvalia Amburbium Argei Armilustrium Augustalia Bacchanalia Brumalia Capitoline Games Caprotinia Caristia Carmentalia Cerealia Compitalia Consualia Decennalia Divalia Epulum Jovis Equirria Februa Feralia Floralia Fordicidia Fornacalia Furrinalia Ieiunium Cereris Junonalia Larentalia Latin Festival Lemuria Liberalia Lucaria Ludi Apollinares Ludi Romani Lupercalia Lusus Troiae Matronalia Meditrinalia Megalesia Mercuralia Navigium Isidis Nemoralia Neptunalia October Horse Opiconsivia Parentalia Parilia Poplifugia Plebeian Games Quinquatria Quinquennial Neronia Regifugium Robigalia Saturnalia Rosalia Secular Games Sementivae Septimontium Taurian Games Terminalia Tiberinalia Tricennalia Tubilustrium Veneralia Vestalia Vicennalia Vinalia Volturnalia Vulcanalia

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