Today, July 25, is Furrinalia

[Warren Stupidity]

Furrina (or Furina), was an ancient Roman goddess whose function had become obscure by the time of Varro. Her cult dated to the earliest period of Roman religious history, since she was one the fifteen deities who had their own flamen, the Furrinalis, one of the flamines minores.[1] There is some evidence that Furrina was associated with water.

Furrina's festival was the Furrinalia on July 25. On the Roman calendar, festivals separated by an interval of three days were interconnected and belonged to the same function.[6] In the second half of July, the two Lucaria occur on the 19th and 17th, with the Neptunalia on the 23rd and the Furrinalia on the 25th. This grouping is devoted to woods and running waters, which are intended as a shelter and a relief from the heat of the season, the canicula.

According to Martianus Capella,[citation needed] Furrina is a low ranking deity who has her seat just above the mountain peaks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furrina

[edhopper]

1. It seems that Summer festivals

are much rarer than other times of year. Maybe it's because that's when most of the work was done.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. While reading up on this god, it seems even the Romans didn't remember who she was

or why they were celebrating. It is curious the way our deities die, we just forget to imagine them.

[edhopper]

5. I've read one or two fantasy stories

A Robert E Howard Conan tale for one, about Gods dying because their worshipers faded away.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Her high priest may have been Sheddo, the Groomer of Cats

and his small assistant, Hairball.

[trotsky]

4. I think it would be fun if we still had regular festivals dedicated to some of these gods.

If she's associated with woods and running waters, let's drink beer in the forest by a stream.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. I think I'm going to wait for Saturnalia, as it looks to be more fun.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. I suppose that depends on your view of furriness

I don't recommend too much googling if you don't want your browser history to looks a bit strange ...

[pinto]

8. Saturnalia works for me. Big meals, wine, family and friends gathering together, gifts, communality.

And an observance of the winter solstice, late December. Obviously ancient Christians incorporated or adopted that into their calendar.
I believe there are other Northern European, Celtic traditions along similar lines. The "renewal" of the sun after a long winter and such.

[okasha]

9. No doubt banned by the Tea Party

who want to keep out all those furriners.