Hail to the Lord of Light, hail to Jupiter!
May we find strength and advance through you as we venture now into this new sacred year!
May we remember the old year to make this one even better!
Salve Iupiter!
Salve Anna Perenna!
Salve Iupiter!

 

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As all the Ides, these are sacred to Jupiter as the lord of light. In the original lunar calendar of the Romans, the Ides of March would have been the first full moon of the year. Another scapegoat figure appears in connection to this day, the personification of the expression annare perennare ‘to complete the circle of the year’, namely, the female deity Anna Perenna. A minor figure, she – or she and Jupiter – appear(s) to preside over a wine festival that is connected to longevity.  Like virtually all the feriae of March, the Ides may be seen as a celebration of spring.