Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
34.
_What might the reason be, that whereas all other Romans made their offerings, ceremonies, and sacrifices for the dead, in the moneth of February_: Decimus Brutus _as_ Cicero _saith, was wont to doe the same in the moneth of December: now this_ Brutus _was he who first invaded the countrey of_ Portugall, _and with an armie passed over the river of_ Lethe, _that is to say, oblivion_. MAY it not be, that as the most part of men used not to performe any such services for the dead, but toward the end of the moneth, and a little before the shutting in of the evening; even so it seemeth to carie good reason, to honour the dead at the end of the yeere; and you wot well that December was the last moneth of all the yeere. Or rather, it is because this was an honour exhibited to the deities terrestriall: and it seemeth that the proper season to reverence and worship these earthly gods, is when the fruits of the earth be fully gathered and laid up. Or haply, for that the husband men began at this time to breake up their grounds against their seednesse: it was meet and requisite to have in remembrance those gods which are under the ground. Or haply, because this moneth is dedicate and consecrated by the Romans to _Saturne_; for they counted _Saturne_ one of the gods beneath, and none of them above: and withall, considering the greatest and most solemne feast, which they call _Saturnalia_, is holden in this moneth, at what time as they seeme to have their most frequent meeting, and make best cheere, he thought it meet and reasonable that the dead also should enjoy some little portion thereof. Or it may be said, that it is altogether untrue that _Decimus Brutus_ alone sacrificed for the dead in this moneth: for certeine it is that there was a certeine divine service performed to _Acca Larentia_, and solemne effusions and libaments of wine and milke were powred upon her sepulchre in the moneth of December.
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