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Kalends of August/Feast of the Three Gauls.

Below is a brief history of the day, followed by what this holiday means for this tradition and a ritual.

The Concilium Galliarum was an annual meeting of Gaulish leaders from the Three Gauls (Gallia Aquitania, Gallia Belgica and Gallia Lugdunesis). One representative from the sixty tribes would come to Lugdunum on the Kalends (first day) of August to discuss things and worship at the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls.

The Sanctuary of the Three Gauls was a meeting place for the Concilium Galliarum and the temple for Roma and the divus Augustus, serving two purposes (Christopherson, 1968). The setup allowed for a national union of the Gaulish tribes, but firmly rooted within the Roman empire (Christopherson, 1968).

González-García and García Quintela (2014) suggest that the Kalends of August was an astrologically important holiday for both the Gauls and the Romans. The first of August was the time in which the sun would shine fully on the face of the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls, and on the nights around the kalends of August, the constellation Capricorn would be seen to set over the Sanctuary, this is important as it is the constellation of Augustus. This suggests that the holiday was both Gaulish and Roman, or perhaps more accurately Gallo-Roman. González-García and García Quintela (2014) propose that Lugus was an important God for this day, suggesting it may have been a feast day to Lugus.

However, the date of the temple's opening and first festival, the Kalends of August, could be due to a linkage with Victory and Victoria, as the natalis of the temples to Victory and Victoria in Rome is the Kalends of August (Fishwick, 2004). This does not mean that the meeting and festival are not related to Lugus, as a large festival did take place during the same time in the city, which predated the meeting of the Concilium Galliarum (Fishwick, 2004).

 The first priest of the Sanctuary was Gaius Julius Vercondaridubnus, an Aeduian Gaul with Roman citizenship, with his name being taken from the patron of his fathers’ citizenship, Gaius Julius Caesar (Fishwick, 2002., and Livy, Per. 139). Strabo talks about Lugdunum and the temple of the Three Gauls below.

 “Lugdunum itself… is occupied by the Romans. And it is the most populous of all the cities of Celtica except Narbo; for not only do people use it as an emporium, but the Roman governors coin their money there, both the silver and the gold.​ Again, the temple that was dedicated to Caesar Augustus by all the Galatae in common is situated in front of this city at the junction of the rivers. And in it is a noteworthy altar, bearing an inscription of the names of the tribes, sixty in number; and also images from these tribes, one from each tribe, and also another large altar/image of Augustus.” -Strabo. 4.3.2

It is possible that the numen of the Three Gauls and sixty tribes were worshipped side-by-side with the divus of the Emperor and the Goddess Roma. In addition, the worship of genius was prevalent, with it being understood as the personification of the active force of a being, a thing or a place (Scheid, 2003).

What this holiday is not for this tradition: This is not a holiday in celebration of emperors, empires and the ills that follow.

What this holiday is for this tradition: this holiday can be given in honour of Lugus, the genius of the Three Gauls and the sixty tribes, and Gaius Julius Vercondaridubnus as a hero or ancestor. It can be a celebration of cooperation and democratic processes. It is an excellent time to think about the past and plan for a better future; meet with your loved ones and plan for things to come.

Ritual for the feast of the Kalends of August, or feast of Three Gauls:

[light candle, fire source]

Vercondaridubnus, first priest of the Temple

You who are of Rome and of Gaul

We come to you as the Gauls of old did

Guide our ritual and prayers

Speak on our behalf to the Gods and ancestors

In honour of all you did and in thanks for your example,

We give this offering.

[give offering]

On this day, the Kalends of August

We come together in the spirit of cooperation,

Just as the Concilium Galliarum did in ages past.

We invoke the genius of the Three Gauls

We invoke the genius of the sixty tribes

We invoke the genius of the Concilium Galliarum.

In honour of all you did and in thanks for your examples,

We give this offering.

[give offering]

To you, Lugus

Deuos and patron of many things

You who was called Mercury

Fierce warrior, skilled poet

Shining exemplar, we ask for your aid

Give us your blessing on this holy day

In honour of all you did and in thanks for your example

We give this offering.

[give offering]

On this day, the Kalends of August

We come together with our loved ones

In honour of those that came before us

And those that will succeed us

Praise to you Vercondaridubnus, first priest of the Temple

Praise to the numen of the Three Gauls, sixty tribes and the Concilium Galliarum

Praise to you Lugus, shining exemplar

Thanks to you all!

Good Feast of the Three Gauls to all!

Bibliography:

Christopherson, A.J., 1968. The provincial assembly of the three Gauls in the Julio-Claudian period. Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte, (H. 3), pp.351-366.

Fishwick, Duncan: The imperial cult in the Latin West: studies in the ruler cult of the western provinces of the Roman Empire / Duncan Fishwick. – Leiden; Boston; Köln: Brill, Vol. 3.3. (2004) (Religions in the Graeco-Roman world; Vol. 147)

Fishwick, Duncan: The imperial cult in the Latin West: studies in the ruler cult of the western provinces of the Roman Empire / Duncan Fishwick. – Leiden; Boston; Köln: Brill, Vol. 3.2. (2002) (Religions in the Graeco-Roman world; Vol. 146)

González-García, A.C. and Quintela, G., 2014. THE 1 ST OF AUGUST AT LUGDUNUM: ASTRONOMY AND IMPERIAL CULT IN GALIA. Mediterranean Archaeology & Archaeometry, 14(3).

Livy, Periochae, 139. Lendering translation. https://topostext.org/work/658

Scheid, J., 2003. An introduction to Roman religion. Indiana University Press.

Strabo, Geography, 4.3.2. Loeb translation. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/4C*.html