Let's Spell it Out

Offerings on Meditrinalia for Healing

Meditrina is the Roman goddess of medicine and healing as well as the cultivation of vineyards. The festival named after her is Meditrinalia, held on either September 30th or October 11th, where old and new wine is mixed together and drunk to ward off old and new diseases. Little information about her and her festival survived after the transference from the Old Religion to the new one, but the practice did. It originally may have been connected to the god Jupiter as an agriculture celebration in early Rome, then libations and offerings of fruit were given to Meditrina. You can recreate you own small version of this festival asking for Meditrina’s blessings of health while honoring her with this min-ritual.

SUPPLIES: wine or grape juice, fruit.

Mix old and new wine together (you may replace with grape juice for those not drinking alcohol) and give some to all present. The fruit that is to be set outside for the wildlife is placed upon the altar. All raise their glasses and say:

“Meditrina, Roman goddess of healing and medicine,

We give to you an offering of fruit and libation.

Wines of old and new keep illnesses away,

We taste the wine of cultivation to honor you this day!”

All drink, leaving some for the libation to be left either at the fireplace (until the next day) or to be poured outside. The fruit is then placed outside.

author: Boudicca Andarta