Lemuria

Walk barefoot whilst throwing black beans over your shoulder at midnight to ward off evil spirits

When: May 9th, 11th, 13th every year
Where: Ancient Rome

The Ancient Romans believed that by walking barefoot and throwing black beans over their shoulder at midnight during the feast days of Lemuria they would appease or ward off evil spirits.

Lemures were the evil spirits of the restless or malignant dead and the head of the household was responsible for getting up at midnight and walking around the house in his bare feet throwing the black beans and repeating the incantation “haec ego mitto; his redimo meque meosque fabis.” (I send these; with these beans I redeem me and mine) nine times. The household would then clash bronze pots while repeating, “Ghosts of my fathers and ancestors, be gone!” nine times also.

Black beans by ~Tone, on Flickr