Feralia

Feralia

a festival of the ancient Romans, observed annually in honor of the manes of deceased friends and relations. It was instituted by Numa, and lasted eleven days. The family and acquaintances of the deceased went to the graves and walked round them, offering up prayers to the gods of the infernal regions in behalf of their dead friends. An entertainment was then prepared and placed on a great stone, and of this the dead were supposed to partake. During the entire days of the feast no marriages were allowed to be celebrated, and the worship of the other deities was suspended, all their temples being shut.