Matronalia

American  

[mey-truh-ney-lee-uh, -neyl-yuh, ma-] / ˌmeɪ trəˈneɪ li ə, -ˈneɪl jə, ˌmæ- /

noun

(sometimes used with a plural verb)

• Matronalialia,
  plural
• Matronalialias
  plural

1. an annual festival of ancient Rome held by matrons in honor of Juno.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Matronalialia
  plural
• Matronalialias
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Matronalia

1700–10; < Latin Mātrōnālia ( festa ), neuter plural of mātrōnālis of, belonging to a married woman. See matron, -al ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Matronalia

At which time the Matronalia were celebrated to Juno Lucina, and the Husbands used to pray to that Goddess to protect the Chastity of their Wives.

From The Lovers Assistant, or, New Art of Love by Henry Fielding

So peace was made; and we are told that it was in commemoration of this event that the ladies of Rome ever afterward celebrated the festival of the Matronalia on the first of March.

From Roman Women by Alfred Brittain

Worshipped at the Matronalia in June, as the possessor of all motherly qualities, and especially as the protector of children from ill-treatment.

From Ten Great Religions An Essay in Comparative Theology by James Freeman Clarke

The women became thus dearer to the whole community, and the feast called Matronalia was established in their honor, when wives received presents from their husbands and girls from their lovers.

From The Story of Rome from the Earliest Times to the End of the Republic by Arthur Gilman

Her chief festival was the Matronalia, on the first of March, hence called the "Women's Kalends."

From Ten Great Religions An Essay in Comparative Theology by James Freeman Clarke