Definitions

1. noun

A festival in ancient Roman religion honoring the manes, or spirits, of the ancestors, particularly the deceased parents and other ancestors.

“The archaeologist studied the Roman Parentalia festival, which was observed annually to honor the ancestors.”

2. noun

In some modern pagan and occult traditions, a period of mourning and honoring the deceased, typically a period of nine days.

“The occult community observed a nine-day Parentalia period to honor their loved ones who had passed away.”