Hilaria

The Hilaria ("the cheerful ones") were ancient festivals celebrated on the March equinox to honour Cybele – Mother Goddess. The term seems originally to have been a name which was given to any day or season of rejoicing. Such days were devoted to general rejoicings and public sacrifices, and no one was allowed to show any symptoms of grief or

sorrow.

The day of its celebration was the first day of the year which was longer than the night. The winter with its gloom had died, and the first day of a better season was spent in rejoicings. All kinds of games and amusements were allowed on this day; masquerades were the most prominent among them, and everyone might, in his disguise, imitate

whomsoever he liked, even magistrates.

As the god of vegetation and beloved son and lover of the goddess Cybele, he represented the god-sacrifice who, after dying, rises again (by the hand of the Goddess) as the spirit of spring. One of the most important myths concerning Cybele told of her great fondness for a youth called Attis, her son and devotee. Countless versions of the tale circulated throughout the ancient world, and many of them revolve around the

revenge taken by the goddess when the young man’s attention turns briefly to a human woman. In one version Attis’ single-minded devotion to the goddess wavered long enough for him to become engaged to a princess. Enraged, Cybele caused him to go mad, and in his madness he castrated himself and died. Flowers sprang from his blood and his body turned into a pine tree.

In any case, some of the activities on the Hilaria resembled those associated with April Fools’ Day, but this is another story!