Sementivae

Sementivae is celebrated on the 24th of January. Originally, It was celebrated in two parts, the first being from January 24th until January 26th. The Roman celebration was celebrated by the approval of priests or local officials, who granted permission most years. The first half of the celebration was a salute to the goddesses Tellus (also called Cybele depending on the area in Rome) and Ceres. Tellus was the equivalent of Mother Earth (Terra Mater) while Ceres was seen as the goddess of agriculture. The second half of Sementivae celebrated wither goddess according to religious preference. 

These goddess preferences seem to be the only difference in the two halves of the celebration, however, as both halves celebrated the planting season and sowing the fields with seeds and fertility. This is where Tellus comes into play as she is worshipped at the birth of a child. In tribute, the child would be placed on the ground immediately after birth. Tellus would also be called upon as Terra Mater in wedding rituals. Tellus was one of the 20 main Roman deities. Tellus had been worshipped before the days of the republic and the monarchy.

A pig sacrifice was offered to both Goddesses immediately following the celebrations.  In some districts, sacrum cereale, the cereal rites, were celebrated in honor of the two Goddesses with the additional invocation of twelve male assistant Gods.