Discover the ancient celebration that was the start of Mother’s Day. Matronalia Feriae celebrated the goddess Juno on March 1st. Women received gifts and were celebrated.
In Ancient Rome the date was significant because March first was the first day of the calendar year. The women gathered at the temple to Juno Lucina for celebration and rituals.
History
In ancient Rome, Matronalia (or Matronales Feriae) celebrated Juno Lucina in her capacity as a mother goddess. The name of Matronalia itself gives us the modern English word matron, a married woman in charge of domestic affairs.
The date itself of Matronalia indicates its importance to the Roman pantheon and culture. We celebrate Matronalia on March 1st, which happens to be the 1st day of the year in the Roman calendar established by Romulus, the legendary founder and first king of Rome.
As Matronalia grew in popularity and worship in ancient Rome, the festival became an annual celebration of motherhood.
The Goddess Juno. Painting 1751
Who Was the Goddess Juno?
Juno was the daughter of Saturn and the wife of Jupiter. A high-ranking goddess she was also the mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, and Juventus.
Juno was the goddess of marriage, women, fertility, beauty, and war. She watched over women who were pregnant and in childbirth.
The goddess Juno received the epitaph of Lucina in commemoration of her role as the protector of women in childbirth. She is tied to the cycles of the moon and its light.
The cycle of the moon has long been worshiped by pagan people and used for thousands of years as a means for women to track their fertility.
Her sacred animal was the peacock, and her tree was the lotus.
She had a unique position in the Capitoline Triad which consisted of herself as queen, Jupiter as king, and Minerva who was the goddess of wisdom.
The month of June was named for her and was a popular month for weddings. In fact, those married in June and who conceive a child quickly would give birth in or around March.
Read our blog on the related holiday Florialia.
How Was Matronalia Celebrated?
Matronalia was celebrated at the temple. Women wore their hair and garments lose to express their fertility and open wombs. Flowers adorned their hair.
Flowers were offered at her temple and prayers were said. Special prayers were offered for women in or nearing childbirth.
At the Temple of Vesta, the sacred fire was put out by the chosen Vestal Virgins. The fire was then relite and represented birth.
Women also cooked a special meal for slaves and servants on this day. This day was seen as the female equivalent to Saturnalia which is observed in December.
In the Middle Ages, a custom began of going to visit your mother on March 1st. They would join their families and go to church services together.
On this day servants were given the day off. They were encouraged to pick flowers from their master’s gardens to take home. This was the start of the tradition of bringing flowers to your mother on what would become Mother’s Day.
This day was later Christianized and moved to the fourth Sunday of Lent. Today we use it to honor the humanitarian work of women during the Civil War.
Honoring Juno
Childbirth was a much more dangerous time during Ancient Rome for both women and infants. Women who were close to labor would offer prayers and sacrifices to Juno in preparation for delivery.
When the baby was born, Juno was honored and thanks were given. The parents would offer a coin to her at the temple and then the child’s name would be added to the official records.
How Do We Celebrate Today?
Altar
Set up your altar to honor Juno, your women ancestors, and women important in your life. Pictures of Juno and women you want to honor, flowers, and candles.
Yellow flowers and roses are significant but use whatever you have available.
Inscribe your candles with the name of women you want to honor. Light them, meditate on how those women enhanced your life, and give them thanks.
Moon Phases. Graphic by Orion 8 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11219265
The Moon
The moon holds special significance in childbearing and the sacred cycle of fertility. Worship the goddess Juno in the light of the moon at an altar placed near the window in your home that receives the most moonlight.
If no moonlight enters the home, there are other ways to bring the moon’s power into your home. Allow the flowers of the altar to bathe in the moonlight outside before placing them on the altar, and do the same with your coin offerings.
The Recognizing of the Mother
Children should pay homage to their mothers, aunts, and/or sisters. Matronalia represents a deeper worship of the mother than the commercialized holiday.
Take the time to visit your mother if she is living or remember her in ritual. Remind the women in your life how much they mean to you. Small gifts of lilies, chocolates, and notes of appreciation may be given.
In all of your Matronalia worship, remember to give thanks to the goddess Juno for her protection over mothers and newborn children everywhere.