Parilia
The Parilia was a festival celebrated on 21st April in honor of Pales, the patron deity of shepherds and sheep. The festival was intended to purify both sheep and shepherds and ensure their well-being.
Date: 21st April
Deity: Pales
Observances: Sacrifices, bonfires
The Parilia had both rural and urban forms. The rural form was originally a pastoral festival, while the urban form incorporated elements from other Roman religious practices.
The rural Parilia involved a series of rituals performed by shepherds. These rituals included purifying the sheep by sweeping the pen and building a bonfire, jumping through the fire with the sheep, and offering sacrifices to Pales.
The urban Parilia was celebrated by priests and included the use of suffimen, a ritual substance made from the ashes of a sacrificed calf and the blood of the October Horse. Suffimen was sprinkled on bonfires during the festival.
Over time, the Parilia became associated with the birthday of Rome. This association is believed to have originated from a legend about Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome. According to the legend, Romulus marked out the boundaries of the new city on the day of the Parilia.
The connection between the Parilia and the birthday of Rome was strengthened during the Imperial period. Several Roman rulers, including Julius Caesar and Caligula, added elements to the festival to celebrate the city’s foundation.
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