Thesmophoria

Thesmophoria

In Greek religion, a festival held in honor of Demeter Thesmophoros. The celebrants were free married women who had observed chastity for several days and abstained from certain foods. Pigs were thrown into an underground chamber, where they were eaten by snakes. The uneaten, rotted remains were brought up and laid on an altar; if mixed with seeds they were believed to ensure a good crop.