Tags: Holiday.
In ancient Rome the Caristia also known as the Cara Cognatio was an official but privately observed holiday on February 22 that celebrated love of family with banqueting and gifts. Families gathered to dine together and offer food and incense to the Lares as their household gods. It was a day of reconciliation when disagreements were to be set aside but the poet Ovid observes satirically that this could be achieved only by excluding family members who caused trouble.
