Cerealia was the ancient Roman harvest festival honoring Ceres, the goddess of agriculture.
The festival was held in Rome in April, with the main celebrations traditionally associated with April 19. Ceres was the Roman goddess of grain, farming, and fertility, and her name is the source of the modern word “cereal.”
Ancient accounts describe public games and theatrical performances as part of the festival. One unusual ritual involved foxes with burning objects tied to their tails being released in the Circus Maximus. Ancient writers connected this act with a story about damage to crops, although the precise meaning of the ritual is debated.
Cerealia is often confused with Saturnalia because both were major Roman festivals, but they honored different deities and occurred in different seasons. Saturnalia honored Saturn and took place in December, whereas Cerealia was associated with Ceres and the spring agricultural cycle.