October 5
Festival of Old Women, Mania
Annually on this day, the farm workers of Lithuania celebrate the Festival of Old Women (Nubaigai). The last sheaf of grain that is cut dressed up as an old woman and honored the Goddess of the harvest. Traditionally, there is a last fruits market with homemade bread, jams, and all types of freshly canned goods for sale. At the height of the day, there are games and sports for the young people to play. With the setting of the sun, there is a feast an a good deal of dancing and merriment into the week hours of the night.
On this day the Roman Goddess Mania (regarded as the mother of the Lares and the Goddess of death) was honored. At this time, the Mundus, a subterranean ritual pit believed to lead to the Underworld, was opened. The cover of the pit was regarded as the Gate of Hell. When lifted, the spirits of the Underworld were allowed to wander the streets of Rome. To help keep the spirits bay, small ugly images were hung as charms in offering to Mania.
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