The Festival up to know has been a success, even if there have been slower periods during the day.

The opening ceremony was great even if there were last minute delays.

The Scanvenger Hunts I & II were a bit more difficult this time around, but some were able to succeed. *I personally gave up, although it was hard to search for hints while working at the same time*

The Latin Trivia Quiz was also a success, although some members do need to practice their Latin *although I did not take the quiz, I know that I would be one that would have to hit the books*.

The History Quiz was also extremely entertaining as our Pontifex was guessing all the answers... and managed to get one right and on time. Drakus was everyone's hero when he came in first.

Very few members posted poetry, but the demigods judges did a great job in choosing the winners.

The Banquet is starting and I am late...

Post from Senex Caecilius on the Etymology of the Meditrinalia
This information comes from H. H. Scullard in his book Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (1981).
Varro records that 'the Meditrinalia was named for mederi ["to be healed"], because Flaccus, a flamen Martialis, used to say that on this day it was the custom to pour an offering of new and old wine and to taste it in order to be healed. Many are accustomed to do this even now when they say "wine new and old I drink, of illness new and old I am cured".' Festus gives a similar quotation used on the day when the must was first tasted. Since it was clearly too early to start drinking the new wine and the real tasting and drinking took place at the Vinalia on 23 April, the emphasis of the ceremony at the Meditrinalia was perhaps on the formal tasting after a libation (indeed, despite the lack of manuscript authority, some scholars would be read libo for bibo in the formula quoted by Varro). However that may be, this was an clearly an important ceremony in early agricultural Rome, though the cultivation of the vine may not have antedated the Etruscan period. Meditrinalia may in fact derive from a non-Indo-European word, meaning the place of the ceremony, the wine-press. A goddess Meditrina is only a late Roman invention from the name of the festival, and the presiding deity was probably Jupiter, as the calendars suggest. Varro's remark that even in his day many people still 'toasted' the occasion is perhaps more likely to be true of the country rather than the town.

"Proserpina as Priest of Meditrina (and a Pontifex) will join the Flamen Dialis and myself (as Pontifex Maximus) in the ceremonies that we conduct in honour of these two gods, Meditrina and Jupiter.

Looking at our schedule, at the moment four rituals/prayers are projected, and including my suggestions in brackets:

13th Meditrinalia, Day I
10 am Opening ceremony, EXAMPLE (All of the priests together, Proserpina's speech)
15 pm Offering to Jupiter (Flamen Dialis speaks)

14th Meditrinalia, Day II
11 am Wine and Prayers in Honour of Meditrina and Jupiter (Proserpina and Flamen Dialis speak)

15th Fontinalia
11 am Sacrifice with Wine;
Announcement of Winners of All Contests (Proserpina and Flamen Dialis speak)"

As Pontifices I will be part of the opening ceremony where I will speak to the Roman citizens and foreigners. I will also act as the Priest of Meditrina. We are in search of a Flamen Dialis as well.