According to the good folk at Wikipedia today is the first day of the Roman Bacchanalia.
Rooted in the Greek Dionysia, the Bacchanalia is one of the mystery religions, and therefore secret, and so, mostly what we know of it is inferred rather than through direct knowledge.
Sexuality does seem to have been a part of it. And there are persisting rumors of orgies and other frenzied rituals recalling the Dionysia. But the Roman celebration, at least from the reforms beginning in the second century before the common era appears to have merged with the festival of Liberalia, celebrating the diety Liber Pater and his consort Libera. And with that include other senses than just our sexuality and love of the grape.
Of course, and, still, whatever dignity and depth was to be found in the ancient rites, reformed or not, in our contemporary usage Bacchanalia general means drunken orgy.
Still.
Kind of hard not to like a holiday that includes raising a cup of wine and winking at the lovely person of your choice.
And in this rough season, where sometimes it is hard to see something to celebrate, maybe here it is. Life itself. Messy. Uncertain. Shadowed by death. And, lovely beyond words. And we seem to have some body true need to acknowledge it.
And, Tht makes me think of another toast. Apropos, I believe…
L’chaim!
To life!
Life itself. Messy. Uncertain. Shadowed by death. And, lovely beyond words. Although we seem to have some body true need to acknowledge it.
L’chaim!
To life!
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