The ancient Roman festival Floralia honored Flora, the goddess of flowers, vegetation, and spring. Her festival was held from late April into early May, with the principal observances traditionally dated April 28 to May 3.
Floralia began as a Roman religious festival in 240 BCE, and a temple to Flora was established a few years later after consultation of the Sibylline Books. The games were associated with the plebeians and were organized by plebeian aediles, partly funded by fines for illegal use of public land. They included theatrical performances, circus spectacles, sacrifices, and colorful public celebrations.
Flora was a Roman deity rather than simply a generic symbol of spring. Her Greek counterpart was the nymph Chloris, but Venus, Juno, and Ceres were separate goddesses with different spheres: love, marriage and sovereignty, and agriculture respectively. Ancient sources also describe fertility symbolism during Floralia, including the release of hares and goats and the scattering of beans and lupins.