December 5 marks the Faunalia Rustica, the third festival of the Roman religious calendar dedicated to Faunus.
Faunus is an indigenous Roman deity, later syncretized with the Greek god Pan. He is the leader of the class of woodland beings known collectively as the Fauni, who, like him, possess the physical characteristics of both humans and goats. The striking appearance and booming voices of Faunus and the Fauni are often described as terrifying by those who venture into wild meadows and woods.
Sometimes described as a son of Mars, Faunus is a patron of rural folk, their farms, and livestock. Faunus is also an oracular deity who was in ancient times consulted at his shrine on the Tibur Island. Faunus has a female counterpart, a sister, wife or, perhaps, even an aspect known as Fauna or Fatua, who may also be the better-known goddess Bona Dea.
The celebration of the Faunalia Rustica began with the offering of prayers and incense, libations of wine, and the sacrifice of a goat, followed by feasting, drinking, and energetic dancing by participants outside among the flocks and herds.
Perhaps it is not by coincidence that the date of this festival is shared by Krampus celebrations in Eastern and Central Europe. Today, the Krampus is said to be an associate of Saint Nicholas who punishes naughty children. Krampus and the Krampuses seemingly share an apotropaic (protective) function with Faunus and the Fauni, which they accomplish by ringing bells at the homes and villages they visit on this night.
O Faunus, lover of the flying Nymphs, Deign through my bounds and smiling fields to pass With aspect all benign: my little flock Leave with a blessing.
So thine this year shall be a tender kid And generous cup, associate of Venus, And on thine ancient altar there shall reek Odorous incense.
When dark December brings thy festival, The cattle sport upon the grassy plain, The ox is loosed, the folk in festal mood Stroll through the meadows.
Among the lawless lambkins strays the wolf, The forest strews its trophies at thy feet, The delver joys to strike the hated earth Thrice in his dancing.
Ode III:18 from Mitchell, Alexander Gordon. The Odes of Horace, Book III:18. Translated Into English Verse by A. Gordon Mitchell, N.p., Paisley, 1921.
⋄🙚 ⋄⋄ 🙚 ⋄⋄ 🙚 ⋄⋄ 🙚 ⋄⋄ 🙚 ⋄⋄ 🙚 ⋄⋄ 🙚 ⋄۞⋄ 🙘 ⋄⋄ 🙘 ⋄⋄ 🙘 ⋄⋄ 🙘 ⋄⋄🙘 ⋄⋄ 🙘 ⋄⋄ 🙘⋄
Insight about the poem:
D’Evelyn, Thomas. “A Reason to Learn Latin. Unrolling the Wisdom and Humor of Horace’s Poetry.” The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec. 1987, www.csmonitor.com/1987/1230/dbtom30.html.
Image information:
Clay oil lamp depicting Pan (Faunus) the god of shepherds and flocks, 1st-2nd century AD, Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Munich, Germany. Photo by Carole Raddato, 2013. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Image source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clay_oil_lamp_depicting_Pan_(Faunus)the_god_of_shepherds_and_flocks,_1st-2nd_century_AD,_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen,_Munich(8957424375).jpg
Remix: I removed the background.
