February, March: Anthesteria, Feast of Flowers

Anthesteria

Anthesteria is an ancient Greek festival that celebrated the maturing of the wine and the beginning of spring. This Athenian festival honors Dionysus, god of the grape harvest, winemaking, and wine. The celebration lasted for three days during the full moon in the month of Anthesterion from the Hellenic calendar in ancient Attica (February-March). The word Anthesteria is associated with “flower” or the “bloom” of the grape.

A. W. Verrall (Journal of Hellenic Studies, xx., 1900, p. 115) wrote that it was a feast of “revocation” where the dead were called back to the land of the living. During the festival the dead freely roamed the city. People ritually expelled the Keres, evil female spirits, from their homes.

Day One: Pithoigia or Opening of the Casks

They offered wine from the newly opened casks to Dionysus and to everyone in the household, including servants and slaves. Homes, drinking vessels, and children were adorned with spring flowers.

Day Two: Choës or Feast of Beakers

This was a day for visiting. People dressed in bright, cheerful outfits, some even dressed as Dionysus. They spent the day visiting family and friends. They also visited the local drinking establishments and played drinking games. Some people offered wine to deceased relatives by pouring libations on their tombs.

For the state, however, it was a formal day, with secret ceremonies in one sanctuary of Dionysus. The basilissa (or basilinna), wife of the archon basileus, would marry the god of wine in a special ceremony. She was assisted by fourteen Athenian matrons, called geraerae, who the basileus chose and swore to secrecy.

Both Pithoigia and Choës were considered unlucky days that required atoning with libations. As the souls of the dead were on earth during these days, people chewed whitethorn leaves and smeared tar on their doors to protect themselves from evil.

Day Three: Chytri or Feast of Pots

This was a festival of the dead. They offered cooked legumes to Hermes, son of Zeus, and he would make the souls of the deceased depart.

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updated: 2023

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