Hail Fontus!
Today we honour the source of life.
We are thankful for nourishment that water provides,
And we seek cleansing and purification to follow the joys of the harvest.
Salve Fonte!

 

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The Fontinalia are the festival of Fons or Fontus, the patron deity of springs and wells. Fons is mostly likely an instance of Janus, the god of springs and streams. The ara Fonti was to be found on Janus’ hill, the Janiculum. The connection of Janus and Fontus is retained in myth which identifies Janus as father of Fontus by the nymph Juturna. Cicero mentions a delubrum Fontis – the delubrum being an expiatory shrine. From Varro we learn that the rituals of the Fontinalia consisted of the placing of flower garlands by wells or into springs.