Caristia Celebration at Marshall University

Dr. E. Del Chrol and students enjoy their Caristia celebration.

Caristia Ritual

Created and Performed by the Latin students of Marshall University

FIRST READER: In Fasti 2, Ovid describes the Karistia thus

Proxima cognati dixere Karistia kari,
et venit ad socios turba propinqua deos.
scilicet a tumulis et qui periere propinquis
protinus ad vivos ora referre iuvat, 620
postque tot amissos quicquid de sanguine restat
aspicere et generis dinumerare gradus.
innocui veniant: procul hinc, procul impius esto
frater et in partus mater acerba suos,
cui pater est vivax, qui matris digerit annos, 625
quae premit invisam socrus iniqua nurum.
Tantalidae fratres absint et Iasonis uxor,
et quae ruricolis semina tosta dedit,
et soror et Procne Tereusque duabus iniquus
et quicumque suas per scelus auget opes. 630
dis generis date tura boni: Concordia fertur
illa praecipue mitis adesse die;
et libate dapes, ut, grati pignus honoris,
nutriat incinctos missa patella Lares.
iamque, ubi suadebit placidos nox umida somnos, 635
larga precaturi sumite vina manu,
et 'bene vos, bene te, patriae pater, optime Caesar'
dicite; suffuso sint bona verba mero.

SECOND READER:
(Translation Kline)

The next day has its name, Caristia, from our dear (cari) kin,
When a throng of relations gathers to the family gods.
It’s surely pleasant to turn our faces to the living,
Once away from our relatives who have perished,
And after so many lost, to see those of our blood
Who remain, and count the degrees of kinship.
Let the innocent come: let the impious brother be far,
Far from here, and the mother harsh to her children,
He whose father’s too long-lived, who weighs his mother’s years,
The cruel mother-in-law who crushes the daughter-in-law she hates.
Be absent Tantalides, Atreus, Thyestes: and Medea, Jason’s wife:
Ino who gave parched seeds to the farmers:
And Procne, her sister, Philomela, and Tereus cruel to both,
And whoever has gathered wealth by wickedness.
Virtuous ones, burn incense to the gods of the family,
(Gentle Concord is said to be there on this day above all)
And offer food, so the robed Lares may feed from the dish
Granted to them as a mark of esteem, that pleases them.
Then when moist night invites us to calm slumber,
Fill the wine-cup full, for the prayer, and say:
‘Health, health to you, worthy Caesar, Father of the Country!’
And let there be pleasant speech at the pouring of wine.

OFFICIANT:
And so we welcome you, our sisters and brothers of the Classics community in the spirit of concord and harmony. Let us lift a prayer for the continued success of us as a whole and for each of the individual parts.

Officiant covers his head, as his head will be covered throughout the ritual. As much as possible the officant should have both arms half raised. Officiant then puts down a wheat cake in front of Minerva and says (adapted from Cato de Agricultura 134):

Minerva mater, te hac strue ommovenda bonas preces precor, uti sies volens propitius mihi amicisque meis hoc collegio familiaeque meae.

Mother Minerva, in offering to you this cake I pray virtuous prayers, in order that, honored by this cake, you may be favorable and gracious to me and my friends, to this group and to my household.

Officiant puts down a wheat cake in front of Diana and says (adapted from Cato de Agricultura 134, translation adapted from novaroma.org):

Diana mater, te hac strue ommovenda bonas preces precor, uti sies volens propitius mihi amicisque meis hoc collegio familiaeque meae.

Mother Diana, in offering to you this cake I pray virtuous prayers, in order that, honored by this cake, you may be favorable and gracious to me and my friends, to this group and to my household.

Officiant puts down grape juice in front of Minerva and says:

Minerva mater, uti te strue ommovenda bonas preces bene precatus sum, eiusdem rei ergo macte suco inferio esto.

Mother Minerva, as in offering to you the heap of cakes virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of the same things be honoured by the humbler juice.

Officiant puts down grape juice in front of Diana and says:

Diana mater, uti te strue ommovenda bonas preces bene precatus sum, eiusdem rei ergo macte suco inferio esto.

Mother Diana, as in offering to you the heap of cakes virtuous prayers were well prayed, for the sake of the same things be honoured by the humbler juice.

Officiant then encourages everyone to eat and enjoy themselves.