Matronalia

The festival of Matronalia is celebrated on March 1^st to honor Juno Lucina. Roman matrons and husbands would visit her temple, lay flower wreaths and pray for the protection of their marriages. The women would wear flower wreaths in their hair, receive gifts from their lovers, and everyone, including the servants, feasted.


The month of June was named after Juno and since she was also the goddess of marriage this month was (and still is) considered the most favorable time to marry.

She held a special place in pantheon of the gods as "Queen of the Heavens" and was associated with the moon. Juno, as the moon-goddess was associated with all aspects and cycles of womanhood.

Juno (who is similar to the Greek goddess Hera) was a daughter of Saturn, wife of the chief god Jupiter and the mother of Juventas, Mars and Vulcan. Like Jupiter, she could throw lightening bolts.

Juno Lucina’s color is white or silver, and among her sacred symbols are the peacock, the cypress, the lily, the moon, the cowrie shell, and figs. One source says a legendary king later began a custom of offering silver coins to Juno on the birth of a child.