On the Roman calendar, this date originally marked the festival of Vestalia, a feast held to honor the goddess Vesta. Vesta is the goddess of fire and the hearth. It is unusual for this goddess to appear in any sort of icon, because her image is of fire itself. On this day, women and bakers should be honored. It is an excellent day to bake. If you do so, be sure to leave some cake or bread on the fireplace or stove afterward as an offering to the fiery spirit of the goddess Vesta.

Note: She also likes violets.