Vertumnus

The beginning of spring marks the opening of a period of "transformation" in which Nature, undertakes a period of change due to the restart of natural cycles. Humankind, being part of the Nature (or at least those who still consider themselves part of the Nature), undertakes similar deep changes.

 

This is therefore a period highly characterized by the presence of Vertumnus.

Vertumnus, a God with perhaps Etruscan or Sabine origin, is the sacralization of metamorphosis, transformation, perpetual change, in the broadest meaning and sense, due to the relentless flow of natural cycles and Time.

Vertumnus is the vertere in the most sacred and profound meaning. Wherever there is uncertainty, there is Vertumnus. Con-vert-ing, turn-ing, the hope that the fate turns in our favor, imply the presence of this God. The camouflage, the illusion, the transformation, the disguise, the mutation are the dimensions where Vertumnus operates.

In the Traditional Roman Spirituality, Gods and Goddesses usually have a non-unique, non-univocal  identity that, being distributed on a myriad of aspects, features and details related along a network of signs and symbols, it is always difficult to understand, identify, interpret. These fragmented aspects are combined and recombined: each of these combinations can potentially end in the identity of a God or a Goddess. Gods and Goddesses are not manifested in a vulgar and profane sense; they may be perceived, they may be understood within their "spheres of action and competence (officium)" which exert their power. This is a problematic task when discussing about a Deity who, by his nature, shows a rather changeable, elusive, fluid identity, just because representing the sacred nature of the transformation. Vertere is the focal attribute of Vertumnus and in this dimension he expresses his vis. In this case, the name of the God reassumes his identity. The meaning of the nomen of Vertumnus outlines the sphere of the action of this God.
Vertere is not only metamorphosis, but also "doubling" (Vertumni as plural), "reversal", "subversion": what is white becomes black and vice versa, what is male becomes female and vice versa, the sudden change of fate (pollice verso). If the vertere can be found in the prefix of the name of God (Vert), more implications are in the second part of his name that can refer to amnis (tide), annus (year) and omnia (all).
In this case Vertumnus can reverse the flowing of the events, change the course of the time, modify and transform all and modify and transform himself in all.
These characteristics of Vertumnus (his sphere of action) are therefore evidenced in this period of the year. We are in a phase of change of the seasons (anniversarius): Vertumnus operates in the transformations we see in plants, trees and herbs (this explains also his links  with Pomona), as well as in animals, clearly passing from a phase to another. Changes in colors, in flavors,in odors, in sounds: this is why we offer the first fruits in spring to Vertumnus.
It is important not to forget that the continuous mutation and transformation sacralized by Vertumnus also affect the entire universe as well as the human body, temperament, behavior and the same human society as a whole.