If Rome's celebration days are around April 27-30, I went hunting for some more specific info of just what Floralia involves, other than running about half-clothed, throwing flowers about, and drinking too much wine (while being serenaded with music). I've also heard it referred to as the Florales Ludi.

Here are a few notes I picked up:

The festival of Floralia began around the year 258 BCE. Pagan Romans celebrated for six days, from April 27th to May 3rd, honouring their Goddess of Spring and of Flowers, Flora. Flora, known as Chloris to the Greeks, was a beautiful and serene Goddess, the Queen of Spring. She was married to Zephyrus, the west wind, and her temple is in Aventine.

Floralia was a time a great merriment and rejoicing in ancient Rome. During the festival, Romans would cast off their habitual white robes for more colourful garments, especially green ones. They would also deck themselves and everything around them in flowers then engage in all sorts of activities. There would be feasting, singing, dancing, and gaming. Offerings of milk and honey were made to the goddess Flora. Goats and hares meant to symbolize fertility were let loose in gardens and fields as protectors in Flora’s honour. Singing filled the air and dancers stomped the ground to awaken nature and bring it back to life.

Ancient roman prostitutes in particular enjoyed this festival as they considered Flora their patron goddess. So Floralia was especially important to them. They participated in many events, from performing naked in the theatre to gladiatorial feats.
Hmmmm, I wonder where the Maypole came from - why do I think that it was a lot less respectable in ancient Rome?

From another source, , there are several points made:

1) Floralia was an actual celebration of the flowers as a guardian for Rome, conducted by the aediles;

2) Theatrical and mimic representations formed a principal part of the various amusements, and that it was customary for the assembled people on this occasion to demand the female actors to appear naked on the stage, and to amuse the multitude with their indecent gestures and dances.

3) There was a "flamen Floralia" and Ceres was the goddess of note. Think about it - no flowers, no fruit, no veggies!
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So here were a couple of thoguhts:


a) Floralia was notorious for skits and sketches in the theater, usually pretty ribald and often satirical about local politicians. Max and I were talking about how much fun it would be for Rome to "put on a play" (a brief skit, really) in which genuine AW characters, slightly disguised, could be satirized. What about Corny Chainelius, the famous whip-lady of Rome? (well, there's no real equivalent for a chainsaw). Or the sleazy Greek moneylender, Ot Jariston, who's planning to rebuild the Palatine palaces on public subscription? (just kidding, Jot!) It would be fun to do it like one of the Plautian farces, full of double-entendres and stuff. We're working on that for one possible event - what think you?

b) It's also been suggested, since Senex's scavenger hunts were such fun at the Gold Launch, that we do some Roman scavenger hunts;

c) We obviously need a big floral banquet;

d) Since it's a festival of music, do we have access to any music we can share online from ancient Rome? and

e) Forgive me, but if the ladies of the evening in Rome dug this festival, why do we not consider a foot-race from the top of the Capitoline Hill to the - er - Red Light District, with suitable prizes for the - ahem! - ladies who show themselves lightest of foot? We could call it the Hookers' Hotfoot? (wince)

Any other thoughts welcomed!