Editing Dionysus (section)

===Anthesteria===
The [[Anthesteria]] (Ἀνθεστήρια) was an Athenian festival that celebrated the beginning of spring. It spanned three days: Pithoigia (Πιθοίγια, "Jar-Opening"), Choes (Χοαί, "The Pouring") and Chythroi (Χύτροι "The Pots").<ref name=":0">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Anthesteria |volume= 2 | pages = 93–94 }}</ref> It was said the dead arose from the underworld during the span of the festival. Along with the souls of the dead, the [[Keres]] also wandered through the city and had to be banished when the festival ended.<ref name=":4">(Photius, Lexicon, s.v. "Thyraze Kares.")

To the doors, Kares, it is no longer Anthestria": some authorities contented that this is what is said to the crowd of Karian slaves, since at the Anthestria they join in the feast and do not do any work. Therefore, when the festival is over, they send them back out to work with the words, "To the doors, Keres, it is no longer Anthestria." since the souls [keres] wander about through the city at the Anthestria.</ref> On the first day, Wine vats were opened.<ref>(Plutarch, Table-talk, 655e.)

At Athens they inaugurate the new wine on the eleventh of the month, and they call the day pithoigia.</ref> The wine was opened and mixed in honour of the god.<ref>(Phanodemus, in Athenaeus, Deipnosophists XI. 456a; frag 12in FGrH 325.)

At the temple of Dionysus in Limnai ["The Marshes"] the Athenians bring the new wine from the jars age mix it in honour of the god and then they drink it themselves. Because of this custom Dionysus is called Limnaios, because the wine was mixed with water and then for the first time drunk diluted.</ref> The rooms and the drinking vessels were adorned with flowers along with children over three years of age.<ref name=":0" />

On the second day, a solemn ritual for Dionysus occurred along with drinking. People dressed up, sometimes as members of Dionysus's entourage, and visited others. Choes was also the occasion of a solemn and secret ceremony in one of the sanctuaries of Dionysus in the Lenaeum, which was closed for the rest of the year. The basilissa (or basilinna), wife of the basileus, underwent a symbolic ceremonial marriage to the god, possibly representing a [[Hieros gamos]]. The basilissa was assisted by fourteen Athenian matrons (called [[Gerarai]]) who were chosen by the basileus and sworn to secrecy.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|last=Rice, David G. Stambaugh, John E.|title=Sources for the Study of Greek Religion Corrected Edition.|date=2014|publisher=Society of Biblical Literature|isbn=978-1-62837-067-6|oclc=893453849}}</ref>

The last day was dedicated to the dead. Offerings were also offered to [[Hermes]], due to his connection to the underworld. It was considered a day of merrymaking.<ref name=":0" /> Some poured [[Libation]]s on the tombs of deceased relatives. Chythroi ended with a ritual cry intended to order the souls of the dead to return to the underworld.<ref name=":5" /> [[Keres]] were also banished from the festival on the last day.<ref name=":4" />

To protect themselves from evil, people chewed leaves of whitethorn and smeared their doors with tar to protect themselves. The festival also allowed servants and slaves to participate in the festivities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />