Festival of Larentalia
December 23
(Roman) Ancient: X Kal. Jan.
This festival honors Acca Larentia. Acca is an obscure Latin word: in Greek akko means a “ridiculous
woman” or “bogey”; in Sanskrit akka means “mother.” Therefore Acca Larentia seems to
be the Mater Larum (Mother of the Lares), who is also called Lara, Larunda, Larentina and Mania. Indeed Larentia was
said to be the wife of the shepherd Faustulus (perhaps = Faunus), who found Romulus and Remus (who became the
Lares of Rome) when they were being suckled by the she-wolf, and that Larentia became their foster-mother. Others
say that Larentia herself was the she-wolf (lupa), and that’s why she is celebrated as a prostitute (lupa).
In any case, in this festival She is given parental rites (Parentalia) as the mother of the divine ancestors.