Lemuria: Don't Look Back
If you hear a bump in the night this May, don't ignore it. It might be a Lemur. Lemuria is Ancient Rome’s version of a ghost story—but in this one, you aren't telling stories around a campfire; you are actively kicking the ghosts out of your house.
What is Lemuria?
While the Romans honored their benevolent ancestors (Lares) in February, May was reserved for the Lemures (or Larvae): the restless, angry, or hungry ghosts of those who died untimely deaths or were not properly buried. These spirits were believed to wander the house, looking for living family members to haunt.
The festival was so ominous that temples were closed, and it was considered extremely bad luck to marry during this time—a superstition that persists in the proverb, "Marry in May and rue the day."
Legend says the holiday was originally instituted by Romulus to appease the angry ghost of his brother Remus (originally called Remuria).
When is it?
It is observed on three specific odd-numbered nights in May.
In 2026: The nights are Saturday, May 9, Monday, May 11, and Wednesday, May 13.
(Note: Even days were considered unlucky for religious rites, so the festival skips the days in between).
How is it Typically Celebrated?
The celebration is a solemn, solitary ritual of exorcism performed by the head of the household (paterfamilias):
1. The Midnight Walk At midnight, when the house is silent, the head of the household rises. He must be barefoot (to connect with the earth) and cannot have any knots in his clothing (knots trap energy).
2. The Fig Sign He makes the "mano fica" sign with his hand (thumb tucked between fingers) to ward off evil spirits as he walks through the house.
3. Washing the Hands Before beginning, he washes his hands in pure spring water three times.
4. The Black Beans This is the most famous part of the rite. The man puts black beans in his mouth and then spits them out or throws them over his shoulder without looking back. As he throws them, he chants nine times:
"Haec ego mitto; his redimo meque meosque fabis." ("I send these; with these beans I redeem me and mine.") The belief is that the ghosts will chase after the beans to eat them, leaving the living family alone.
5. The Clashing of Bronze After the beans are thrown, the man washes his hands again and then bangs bronze pots or bells together loudly to terrify the spirits. He shouts the final dismissal nine times:
"Manes exite paterni!" ("Ghosts of my fathers, go forth!")
Only then is it safe to look back. The house is clean for another year.
