According to the Roman Tradition, defuncts are divided into two main categories: Lares, whose lives were inspired to Virtus and Pietas and whose example ispire present and future generations. They are Ancestors protecting the family and the house: Lares have a small domestic altar (Lararium) usually close to the home-fire. Lares thus remain in their home.
Those not following Virtus and Pieats become shadows (Larvae o Lamures) and they cannot go back home after their death. While Lares are evoked as protectors, Lemures must be kept away. They are imprisoned in the Pluto's Inferi and only in rare occasions (as in this period) they can come back on the surface and come near their homes they look in the night with homesickness and regret (this condition make them very aggressive...)
In the past, villages in the Roman Empire had a well used to allow Lamures escape for these nights of "freedom".
Even if undeserving ancestors, Lemures are however part of the family and during this night the landlord must offer some food to Lemures. Lemures and living people cannot meet each other: so the landlord, at the doorstep and barefoot, purifyng three times his hands with pure water and turning his head, must throw nine times behind his back some black beans, Lemures' food, reciting this formula:
"With this food, I redeem myself and my family"
After that, he must wash his hands again and hit a bronze bell or a shield saying:
"Shadows, go away!"
Now he can see ahead again to verify that Lemures are gone away.
During Lemuria, marriages cannot be celebrated and temples are closed.
Those not following Virtus and Pieats become shadows (Larvae o Lamures) and they cannot go back home after their death. While Lares are evoked as protectors, Lemures must be kept away. They are imprisoned in the Pluto's Inferi and only in rare occasions (as in this period) they can come back on the surface and come near their homes they look in the night with homesickness and regret (this condition make them very aggressive...)
In the past, villages in the Roman Empire had a well used to allow Lamures escape for these nights of "freedom".
Even if undeserving ancestors, Lemures are however part of the family and during this night the landlord must offer some food to Lemures. Lemures and living people cannot meet each other: so the landlord, at the doorstep and barefoot, purifyng three times his hands with pure water and turning his head, must throw nine times behind his back some black beans, Lemures' food, reciting this formula:
"With this food, I redeem myself and my family"
After that, he must wash his hands again and hit a bronze bell or a shield saying:
"Shadows, go away!"
Now he can see ahead again to verify that Lemures are gone away.
During Lemuria, marriages cannot be celebrated and temples are closed.
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