The Ides of March in the Roman calendar marked several new year observances, and originally was determined by the full moon. It was also the day for celebrating the Feast of Anna Perenna. Therefore, the Ides of March signalled the first full moon of the new year.

The Feast of Anna Perenna was celebrated by the common people of Rome with picnics and drinking lots of wine. Offerings were made to her for a happy year to come. Many equated Anna Perenna with the moon. Part of the legend of Anna Perenna as told by the poet, Ovid, tells that she was swept away by the river god, Numicus, turned into a river nymph and hidden in the ‘perennial stream’ where she was renamed ‘Anna Perenna.’

We take note of several points in this legend…

• Anna Perenna was a woman revered by ordinary people
• She was celebrated for bringing joy and happiness through the simple pleasure of picnicking
• She is associated with the full moon and Spring renewal

Virga Gallery and Press embraces these ideals in the artworks we sell and the artists we introduce. Art is perennial. Art is for everyone. We celebrate Art in the same way as partaking in the simple pleasure of a picnic – warm, happy, and congenial!