November 8th

November 8th was the annual festival of the Mania.

Mania is the Roman Goddess of the dead. Not to be confused with the Greek Goddess of madness (also named Mania), she is called the mother of the Manes, the souls of the dead, who became her children when they descended to the Underworld. She was also later said to be the mother of the Lares, the household Gods. Mania rules over the Underworld along with Mantus, God of the dead. Her image was hung over doors to frighten away evil spirits. Mania’s name is also seen as Manea and Mania della Notte (“Mania of the night”).