What was the name of the Roman festival honoring the goddess of flowers? The festival was called the Floralia.
The Floralia honored Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, vegetation, spring, and fertility. It began on April 28 and, during the imperial period, the associated Games of Flora lasted six days, ending on May 3. The celebration marked the flourishing of plants and the agricultural promise of the growing season.
Rome’s temple of Flora was established after a consultation of the Sibylline Books. The temple was built near the Circus Maximus, in an area strongly associated with the plebeians. The games were initially irregular, but crop damage led to their annual celebration from 173 BCE onward.
The Floralia was known for colorful clothing, theatrical performances, drinking, and fertility symbolism. Sources describe the ceremonial release of hares and goats, while beans, vetches, and lupins could be scattered among the crowd. It is commonly confused with the Cerealia, which honored Ceres and focused more directly on grain and agriculture; the Floralia specifically belonged to Flora.