FERALIA,
The Feast of the dead, noted in the Calendar on the 21st of February, viz. on the 9th of the Calends of March, tho' Ovid puts it on the 17th of February, or the 13th of the Calends of March. This Feast was in∣stituted to render the last Honours to the Dead, and pacify their Ghosts called Manes. Aeneas is accounted the first Author of this Feast, and Numa the Inventer of all the Cere∣monies performed therein. This Feast was kept during eleven days in this manner. The Kinsmen and Acquaintance of the Dead went to their Graves, and turned round about them, making their Prayers; then they pre∣pared an Entertainment upon a great Stone, called Silicernium; and this Feast was com∣monly served with Honey, Wine and Milk, they spread Flowers, and burnt Frankincense and other Perfumes, according to the Quality of the deceased. Silicernium, says Donatus, coe∣na quae infertur Diis Manibus, quòd eam silentes cernant, or quòd epula, says Servius, ponerenter super nudam silicem.
The Antients were perswaded that the Souls of the dead suffered no pains in Hell during the eleven days, that the subterra∣nean Gods were invoked upon their ac∣count, but were allowed to walk about their Graves, and feed upon the Feast prepared for them.
During this time Marriages were forbidden, and the Temples of other Divinities shut up, because they fancied that the Ghosts were walking, and that all was then profane. This Ovid meant by these Verses.
Dum tamen haec fiunt, viduae cessate puellae; Expectet puros pinea taeda dies..... Dî quoque templorum foribus celentur opertis, Thure vacent arae, stentque sine igne soci. Nunc animae tenues & corpora sancta sepulchris Errant, nunc posito pascitur Umbra cibo.
This Feast having been neglected for some years, all the Graves were seen on fire, and the Souls were heard both in the Town and the Country, complaining in the night of be∣ing forsaken. Whereupon it was ordered to keep this Feast for the future with more de∣votion and exactness; and immediately the Prodigies ceased.