Today is Arbor Day. Where Did It Originate?

 What is Arbor Day?

Arbor Day is a secular day of observance in which individuals & groups are encouraged to plant trees. Today, many countries observe such a holiday. Though usually observed in the spring, the date varies, depending on climate & suitable planting season.

The First Arbor Day

The Spanish village of Mondoñedo held the 1st documented arbor plantation festival in the world organized & promoted by its mayor in 1569. The place remains as Alameda de los Remedios & it is still planted with lime & horse-chestnut trees. 

Rows of Horse-Chestnut_ &_Common Lime Trees

Located at the entrance to the city at the foot of the Remedios Sanctuary, it has the peculiarity of being one of the oldest in Spain, where the 1st Tree Festival in Spain was celebrated on February 4, 1569. There is a monolith that commemorates this unique celebration in one of its gardens. Today a humble granite marker & a bronze plate recall the event. 

 Alameda de los Remedios 

Centuries later the small Spanish village of Villanueva de la Sierra held the 1st modern Arbor Day, an initiative launched in 1805 by the local priest with the enthusiastic support of the entire population.

Madrid Professor Miguel Herrero Uceda writes: "While Napoleon was ravaging Europe with his ambition, in this village in the Sierra de Gata lived a priest, don Juan Abern Samtrés, who...convinced of the importance of trees for health, hygiene, decoration, nature, environment & customs, decided to plant trees in a festive air. The festival began on Carnival Tuesday with the ringing of 2 bells of the church... After the Mass, & coated with church ornaments, don Juan, accompanied by other clergies, teachers & a large number of neighbors, planted the 1st tree, a poplar, in the place known as Valley of the Ejido. Tree planting continued by Arroyada & Fuente de la Mora. Afterwards, there was a feast, & ...dance. The party & plantations lasted 3 days. He drafted a manifesto in defence of the trees that was sent to surrounding towns to spread the love & respect for nature, & also he advised them to make tree plantations in their localities."

 Julius Sterling Morton (1832–1902) 

The 1st American Arbor Day originated in Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton. On April 10, 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska. Julius Sterling Morton (1832–1902) was a Nebraska newspaper editor & politician who served as President Grover Cleveland's secretary of agriculture. He founded the nation's Arbor Day in 1872. His son, Joy Morton, founder of the Morton Salt Company, also created the 1,700 acre Morton Arboretum outside of Chicago which now has over 4,000 different types of trees, shrubs, & other woody plants.

Dr. Birdsey Grant Northrop (1817-1898) 

A decade later, Dr. Birdsey Grant Northrop (1817-1898) of Kent, Connecticut, was largely responsible for popularizing the idea across the globe. An avid proponent of trees in the community landscape, he brought attention to Arbor Day in the world community during a visit to Japan in 1883 where he delivered a village improvement speech,  stressed the importance of trees and promoted Arbor Day to the Japanese. He also delivered his Arbor Day message to Europe, Canada, and Australia. Dr. Northrop, a theologian by degree from Yale and advocate for better education and public life, authored 70 works in 159 publications in 2 languages on education, the importance of forestry, rural improvement, and town planning.

In 1883, the American Forestry Association made Dr. Northrop the Chairman of the committee to campaign for Arbor Day nationwide.

 Major Israel McCreight (1865-1958) 

Beginning in 1906, Major Israel McCreight (1865-1958) of DuBois, Pennsylvania, argued that President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation speeches were limited to businessmen in the lumber industry & recommended a campaign of youth education plus a national policy on conservation education. McCreight urged Roosevelt to make a public statement to school children about trees & the destruction of American forests. 

President Theodore Roosevelt planting a tree in Fort Worth, 1905.

Conservationist Gifford Pinchot, Chief of the United States Forest Service, embraced McCreight’s recommendations & asked the President to speak to the public school children of the United States about conservation. On April 15, 1907, Roosevelt issued an "Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States" about the importance of trees & that forestry deserves to be taught in U.S. schools. Pinchot wrote McCreight, "we shall all be indebted to you for having made the suggestion."

 School Children Planting Trees

President Theodore Roosevelt, delivered the "Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States" on April 15, 1907.  Here is an excerpt: "...A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as helpless; forests which are so used that they can not renew themselves will soon vanish, & with them all their benefits....When you help to preserve our forests or plant new ones you are acting the part of good citizens. The value of forestry deserves, therefore, to be taught in the schools, which aim to make good citizens of you. If your Arbor Day exercises help you to realize what benefits each one of you receives from the forests, & how by your assistance these benefits may continue, they will serve a good end."

17C Mythical Goddess Flora by William Faithorne c 1656-1701

 
Goddess Flora  by William Faithorne c 1656-1701. William Faithorne the Younger (1656–c.1701) was an English mezzotint engraver. He was born in London, the eldest son of William Faithorne the Elder. The prints reach into the reign Queen Anne; moreover his earlier pieces are inscribed "W. Faithorne, junior". The exact year of his death is unknown; it is said, he was buried in St. Martin's Churchyard, from the house of "Mr. Will. Copper in Half Moon Street, Covent Garden."

Goddess Flora by Jan Brueghel the Elder & Peter Paul Rubens, 1617

Flora and Zephyr, by Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens, 1617

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, the last 3 days of April  & the first 3 days of May. The festival consisted of games  & theatrical performances. Chariot races  & circus games took place  & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The Romans walked around holding bouquets of flowers or wore wreaths of flowers around their neck or in their hair.

See:

 Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

 Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

 H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

 William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora Goddess of Flowers by Luca Giordano & Andrea Belvedere

Luca Giordano & Andrea Belvedere, Flora, Goddess of Flowers, Ca. 1697. This is a collaborative work between 2 Neapolitan artists, Luca Giordano (Naples, Italy, 1634 - Naples, Italy), 1705 -a painter very popular with the Spanish court under Charles II- & Andrea Belvedere (Naples, 1652 - Naples, 1732.) Belvedere is now believed to be responsible for the flowers, the minute & precise brushstrokes of which are completely unlike Giordano´s signature style, ruling out his role in their execution. 

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston tells us that "In ancient mythology, there was a god & goddess for everything; anything from the generic deity above all others to love to home life...One mythology painting is from the collection of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Spain. The Goddess Flora (La Diosa Flora), Luca Giordano & Andrea Belvedere, c. 1697... 

"Luca Giordano was considered a very popular Spanish painter within the Spanish court under Charles II. While, Andrea Belvedere, who lived in Spain from c. 1694 to c. 1700 was believed to be called from his home in Naples, Italy, by Giordano himself, to paint for the Spanish court. The work is supposedly one of several collaborations between Giordano (who painted the goddess Flora & the seated women) & Belvedere (who executed all the intricate flowers)...

"The Goddess Flora...depicts the goddess sitting on a raised throne surrounded by 4 women, with whom she shares various, colorful flowers. These are taken from a massive, overflowing cornucopia in her left arm...

"All 5 women are dressed mostly in “classical”clothing, but have touches of contemporary pieces...The maiden to Flora’s right wears a simple string of pearls around her neck; & another maiden has a pair of pearl, teardrop-shaped earrings on. Compared to the muted tones of the clothing of the 5 women, the flowers are vibrantly painted & dominate the color scheme of the whole piece...The flowers easily show us the contrasts in the styles of Giordano & Belvedere.

"The 4 women, whose dresses are of completely different colors, together as a group may, in theory, represent the “Four Seasons”. The woman on the right of Flora wears a garland of flowers in her hair & another woman, to Flora’s left, gathers a rather large bundle of flowers. They easily could represent Spring & Summer. Yet another woman is in a rust-colored dress...would be Autumn. Finally, the last woman with no flowers could be Winter.

"Paintings like this were a favorite subject of art commissioned for royalty all over the world, as a passion for the story; as much as, the use of that myth to elevate themselves as divinely-appointed rulers..."

Posted 13th February 2013 by Christopher M. Hammel
The "Unofficial" Blog of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

19C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Gustave Jean Jacquet (French artist, 1846-1909) Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Porträt der Marquise de Gueydan  as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Portrait Of Françoise D'Escravayat, Marquise De La Barrière as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Marie Therese Bloneldharau  as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

17C Woman with a Basket of Spring Flowers

William Marshall (British printmaker, 1617-1649) Woman with a Spring Flower Basket

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766) - Louise Anne de Bourbon Comtesse de Charolais 1731as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

Spring 17C by Grégoire Huret (French, 1606-1670)

The Earth by Grégoire Huret (French, 1606-1670) 

Spring & Summer are the perfect time to celebrate the rebirth of Earth's Beauty & Bounty.  Flowers gave beauty & inspiration to mankind's basic struggle to live & to populate & to protect his home-base, The Earth.  Holding on to The Sweet Divine - The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it...Genesis 2:15.

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Nicolas de Largillierre (French, 1656 - 1746) - Marie Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

18C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Jean-Marc Nattier (1685-1766) - Henriette of France as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

18C Print of Spring

 

1766 Spring Published by Carington Bowles After Robert Pyle done by James Watson London

Here Spring is a stylish young woman standing on garden terrace, adding a rose to flowers in her apron. Her elbow rests on the garden plinth of an urn covered in a trailing plant. A basket of flowers sits on the plinth.

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

1685-90 Lady as The Goddess Flora, by Jan van Haesbergen

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908) 

Spring 1601-1650 Garden in Background

 

Anonymous Artist - Spring with Flowers & a Garden in the Background. Madrid, Museo del Prado. 1601-1650  

Spring & "springtime" refer to the ecological, environmental season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection & regrowth.

17C Allegory of Spring at a Market Scene

Jean-Baptiste de Saive II (Flemish artist, 1597-1642) An Allegory of Spring at a Market Scene with a Boy offering Strawberries to Girl surrounded by Flowers

18C Spring Allegory from the Italian School

18C Spring Allegory from the Italian School

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers.

Flora holding a wreath of flowers by Jean Leblond 1605-1666

Flora holding a wreath of flowers by Jean Leblond 1605-1666 

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

18C Rosalba Carriera (Italian artist, 1675-1757) The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Le Printemps by Grégoire Huret (French, 1606-1670)

 

Le Printemps by Grégoire Huret (French, 1606-1670) published by Pierre Mariette

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Pierre Gobert (1662-1744)  - Retrato de Noiva as The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Woman as Spring by Martin Droeshout 1601-1639

 

Martin Droeshout (British printmaker, 1601-c 1639) Spring

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

Juan van der Hamen y (Gómez de) León (1596-1631) - Offering for Flora, 1627

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Spring in 19C Europe

Arthur John Elsley (British painter) 1860 - 1952 The Joy of Spring

19C Spring by Franz Xavier Winterhalter (German, 1805-c 1873)

Franz Xavier Winterhalter (German, 1805-c 1873) The Spring

Even though it is chilly today & the weather is mercurial, I can definitely feel spring in the air. Just outside my window this morning, some of the birds are ignoring the seed we put out for them & are heading up to the delicate tips of branches to eat the tender new buds. The sky is bright & clear.

3 Rather Proper Mythical Goddesses Flora - Symbols of Spring by Rembrandt (1606-1669)

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Hendrickje Stofells as Goddess Flora

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Saskia as Goddess Flora

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) - Portrait of Saskia as Goddess Flora

In Rome, her festival, the Floralia, was held between April 28 and May 3 and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, drinking, and flowers. The festival was first instituted in 240 B.C.E, and on the advice of the Sibylline books, she was also given a temple in 238 B.C.E. At the festival, with the men decked in flowers, and the women wearing normally forbidden gay costumes, five days of farces and mimes were enacted – ithyphallic, and including nudity when called for – followed by a sixth day of the hunting of goats and hares. On May 23 another (rose) festival was held in her honor.  

Flora's Greek equivalent is Chloris, who was a nymph. 

According to myth, Flora is married to Favonius, the wind god also known as Zephyr, and her companion was Hercules.  It is possible that Flora achieved more prominence in the neo-pagan revival of Antiquity among Renaissance humanists than she had enjoyed in ancient Rome.

See:

 Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

 Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

 H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

 William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Spring in 19C Europe

Charles Conder (British painter) 1868 - 1909 The Howe in Spring

17C Mythical Goddess Flora - Symbol of Spring

18C Rosalba Carriera (Italian artist, 1675-1757) The Goddess Flora

Flora in Roman mythology, was goddess of spring-time & flowers, later identified with the Greek Chloris. Her festival at Rome, the Floralia, instituted 238 B.C. by order of the Sibylline books & at first held irregularly, became annual after 173. It lasted 6 days (April 28-May 3), the 1st day being the anniversary of the foundation of her temple. 

The Floralia was a public festival to honor the goodwill of the goddess Flora. Created in the 6th century BC by the Romans, it took place in spring  & lasted 6 days, & consisted of games & theatrical performances. Chariot races & circus games took place & everywhere were the symbols of Flora. It was traditional to have goats & hares scampering about the landscape where flowers of lupines, beans, & vetch were scattered about. The celebrating Romans held bouquets of flowers & wore wreaths of flowers around their necks or in their hair. In art Flora was represented as a beautiful maiden, bedecked with flowers. The term “flora” became used in botany collectively for the plant-growth of an area.

See Primary Sources:

Ovid, Fasti V. 193-212

Macrobius, Saturnalia I.10.11-14

Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.20.6-10

Tacitus, Annals, ii. 49

and

Ovid, Fasti, Book 4; T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome (University of Exeter Press, 2004).

Robert Turcan, The Gods of Ancient Rome (Routledge, 2001; originally published in French 1998)

H.H. Scullard, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic (Cornell University Press, 1981)

William Warde Fowler, The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic (London, 1908)

Spring in 19C Europe

 Dante Gabriel Rossetti (British, 1828 - 1882 Spring