Pagan Festival Shout Out: Armilustrium

In ancient Roman religion, the Armilustrium was a festival in honor of Mars, the god of war, celebrated on October 19. On this day the weapons of the soldiers were ritually purified and stored for winter. The army would be assembled and reviewed in the Circus Maximus, garlanded with flowers.

During the festival the Romans held a special sacrifice ritual around the October Horse. It is the only time in ancient Rome that horses were sacrificial. I don't do animal sacrifice, but then again I don't practical actual ritual service beyond my personal altar to acknowledge the gods on their special day and a ceremonial fire during solstice, equinox times.