Although literally this means anything associated with the Greek good Dionysus or works mistakenly associated with Dionysius the Areopagite (who supposedly was converted to Christianity by the preaching of Paul) in common use this refers to the ecstatic rites and rituals directly or metaphorically associated with Dionysus as the God of wine and ecstasy. Most noted is the wild rite known as the Bacchanalia (named after the Roman version of Dionysis known a Bacchus) that became so bizarre it was legally banned by the Roman Senate in 186 b.c.e.
Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Sandra Kynes, author of several books, including The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide, Plant Magic, and the new Witches' Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, among many others.
Although a few old books...