Juno's Goddess Matronalia Was A Well-known Ancient Celebration

The following fact about Roman Goddess Juno is that Matronalia was a well-known ancient celebration. All of Juno's festivals took place on the kalendae of a month, with the exception of two or perhaps three: the Nonae Caprotinae in July and the Festival of Juno Capitolina on September 13, whose dates were set by Jupiter's preeminence. It's possible that a second Juno Moneta festival took place on October 10, possibly the day when her shrine was dedicated. This information illustrates how closely the goddess is linked to the start of each lunar month.

Two significant celebrations were held in honor of Goddess Juno. The Matronalia, also called Matonales Feriae, was the main one. The exact date was used to worship at the dedicated temples. It was observed annually on March 1. This celebration was respected because it celebrated the rebirth of nature in the spring, the tranquility following the marriage of the Sabine Women, and the holiness of marriage. Women would march to the temple, offer lambs and oxen as sacrifices, and pray for contented marital lives. Single women would pray for a devoted husband.

On the occasion of Matronalia, husbands were expected to give their wives gifts. Some claim that the celebration was created in memory of Mars, the son of Juno. Some claim that the occasion was a celebration of the end of the Roman-Sabine War, in which women played a significant role. According to legend, the women intervened between the groups to end the conflict.