February 23rd: Terminalia

This day is dedicated to the sacred and symbolic value of the "limits" and the "borders" above all plots' and fields' borders (termini). In this day simple frugal flatbreads made of cereals are prepared and eaten in the country close to the sacred stones erected to limit fields.

These sacred stones are sacralized by the God Terminus (The Immovable).

 

The ancient rite involved the lighting of two fires: a circular (aedes) and a squared one (templum. Around these fires the neighbours were invited for the sacrifice of a lamb.

Invocation to Terminus

Tu populos urbesque et regna ingentia finis:

omnis erit sine te litigiosus ager

Nulla tibi ambitio est, nulla corrumperis aureo

legitima servas credita rura fide

"thou dost set bounds 
to peoples and cities and vast kingdoms ; without 
thee every field would be a root of wrangling. 
Thou courtest no favour, thou art bribed by no gold : 
the lands entrusted to thee thou dost guard in loyal 
good faith."

Ov. Fasti 2-659