Anna Perenna ~ Goddess of the Circle of the Year
 

Received this info from the Wilson's Almanac daily newsletter:

March 15
Festival of Anna Perenna, Goddess of the Circle of the Year, daughter of Belus, Ancient Rome

The Romans originally celebrated this goddess on the first full moon of their new year.

“The Roman goddess of the new year. Her festival was celebrated on March 15. The Romans gave various explanations to the origin or her name, amnis perennis ("eternal stream"): she was a river nymph; her name was derived from annis ("year"); she was a moon-goddess of the running year; also, she was equated with Anna, the sister of Dido, who was received in Latium by Aeneas, but drowned herself in a river. In the class-struggle between the patricians and plebeians she chose the side of the plebeians.” Source

“Anna's sister, Dido, killed herself after being rejected by Aeneas. Anna fled to Latium, where Aeneas welcomed her. Dido's ghost then told Anna of Aeneas' wife's (Lavinia) jealousy. Anna drowned herself in the river Numicius.” Source

Janus and Anna Perenna (arcane)

March 15th. On the Ides is held the joyful feast of Anna Perenna, not far from thy banks, O Tiber, who comest from afar. The common folk come, and scattered here and there over the leafy grass they drink, every lad reclining beside his lass. Some camp under the open sky; a few pitch tents; some make a leafy hut of boughs. Others set up reeds in place of rigid pillars, and stretching out their robes place them upon reeds. But they grow warm with sun and wine, and pray for as many years as they take cups, and they count the cups they drink ... There they sing the ditties they picked up in the theatres, beating time to the words with nimble hands; they set the bowl down, and trip in dances lubberly, while the spruce sweetheart steps about with streaming hair.
Ovid, Fasti, III. 523

The feast of Anna Perenna was celebrated at the first milestone on the Flaminian Way … Here, apparently between the Flaminian and the Salarian roads, the goddess had a fruitful grove ... Macrobius tells us that in the month of March people went to Anna Perenna … in order that they might pass the year and many others in prosperity; and to the same effect Joannes Lydus says that on the Ides of March public prayers were offered that the year might be healthy … these statements furnish a clue to the nature of the festival and of the goddess herself … The pairing of sweethearts, lying on the grass, trolling out ribald staves, and drinking themselves drunk, points to customs like those formerly observed on May Day and Midsummer Eve in many parts of Europe, when the licence accorded to the sexes was a relic of magical rites. It was a day of Valentines.
Frazer, The Golden Bough

Ok, it' no longer March 15, but I can totally appreciate this info, Freyja. When I was a student at university, I used to study classics and Roman history. So I really love hearing stories about Roman culture. I've never heard of the story about Anna Perenna though. I'm kind of surprised that Anna would have want anything to do with Latium after the way Aeneas treated Dido.

Pip Wilson comes up with the most interesting info. I've learned so much from the Almanac. I've even added his ticker to one of my websites - I can't add it to the other because the format somehow prevents it.

Yeah, I've noticed that you get some really good info from the Almanac. I'll definitely have to check out the site. Thanks.