Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Vinalia

The Vinalia were two festivals of the wine harvest, wine vintage and gardens, celebrated in honor of Jupiter and Venus. The Vinalia Urbana was held on 23rd April to bless the previous year’s wine harvest and ensure a good harvest for the coming year. The Vinalia Rustica was held on 19th August, before the grape harvest and wine-pressing.

Relief of the Wine Harvest, Luxembourg City, 2nd-3rd c. AD. Luxembourg City History Museum.

Date: 23rd April and 19th August
Deity: Jupiter and Venus
Observances: Libations of wine

The Vinalia Urbana was primarily a wine festival held on 23rd April. This festival celebrated the previous year’s wine harvest and sought to ensure a bountiful harvest for the coming year.

  • Honoring Jupiter and Venus: As the god of the weather, Jupiter was honored for his role in ensuring favorable conditions for grape growth. Venus, the goddess of love and pleasure, was celebrated for her association with wine as a social and pleasurable beverage.
  • Sacrifices and Libations: During the Vinalia Urbana, people would offer sacrifices to Jupiter and Venus, expressing their gratitude for the previous year’s harvest and seeking blessings for the future. A special libation of sacred wine was poured into a ditch outside Venus’ Capitoline temple.
  • Wine Tasting: One of the primary activities of the Vinalia Urbana was the tasting of the previous year’s wine. This was an opportunity for people to sample the wine and assess its quality.
A section of the Fasti Praenestini, with the entry of the Vinalia in the middle (VIN). (c) Marie-Lan Nguyen

The Vinalia Rustica was held on 19th August, before the grape harvest. This festival was originally a rustic Latin celebration of the grape harvest and was later adopted by the Romans.

  • Honoring Venus Obsequens: The Vinalia Rustica was associated with Venus Obsequens, an early form of Venus. This goddess was believed to have the power to influence the success of the grape harvest.
  • Sacrifices and Rituals: As with the Vinalia Urbana, sacrifices were offered to Jupiter and Venus during the Vinalia Rustica. Rituals were also performed to bless the vineyards and ensure a bountiful harvest.
  • Rural Celebration: The Vinalia Rustica was a more rural celebration, often involving farmers and vineyard workers. It was a time for community gatherings, social activities, and expressing gratitude for the harvest.