Vestalia
The Vestalia was a religious festival celebrated from 7th to 15th June in honor of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and home. It was a women-only event that focused on domestic and family life.
Date: 7th-15th June
Deity: Vesta
Observances: Sacrifices, adorning donkeys
On the first day of the festival, the inner sanctum of the Temple of Vesta, was opened to the public for the only time during the year. Women would visit the temple and offer sacrifices to Vesta, seeking blessings for themselves and their families.
The donkey was the animal associated with Vesta, and it was adorned with garlands and bread on 9th June. This tradition is believed to be connected to a myth involving Vesta and Priapus, where a donkey’s braying startled Priapus and prevented him from harming Vesta.
The final day of the Vestalia, 15th June, the temple of Vesta was purified, and any accumulated filth was swept from the temple and carried away.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 