Because morphine is regularly prescribed in hospices for relief of pain and suffering, physicians and nurses come to rely on its power to relieve pain and promote a death without suffering. A death with symptoms well-managed is one important aspect of what is called a death with dignity..
The Sigillaria - held on the 23 December - was a day of present-giving in ancient Rome. During the Saturnalia, wax tapers and torches were lit - in a similar way to our advent candles. Over-eating, gambling, drinking, singing and sharing witty tales were all part of Saturnalia celebrations.
~ Anna Perenna Festival. In ancient Rome, a festival for Anna Perenna was held on the Ides of March. Ovid, a poet and contemporary of Rome's first emperor, Augustus, wrote a collection of Greek myths in Latin called the Metamorphoses.