The
Roman festival of
Larentalia was held on December 23, but was ordered to be observed twice a year by
Augustus; by some supposed to be in honour of the
Lares, a kind of domestic
genii, or divinities, worshipped in houses, and esteemed the guardians and protectors of families, supposed to reside in chimney-corners. Others have attributed this feast in honour of
Acca Larentia, the nurse of
Romulus and
Remus, and wife of
Faustulus.