Courtesy of the LWHS Archives
At the end of every school year, Lux held a Vestalia following the festivals of Vesta held by Ancient Roman women. Vesta was the goddess of the burning hearth, the home and domestic life. To bring Vesta’s divinity into their houses, Romans would light the central fireplace in their homes from the holy flame in the Vestal Temple. This holy flame was protected by the Vestals, a kind of priesthood only women could partake in. During the festivals of Vesta in early June, the Vestal Temple was open only to women, so they could bring offerings to the sacred fire and pray for blessings on their household.
Lux began their own Vestalia ceremony in May of 1914. Seniors carried out many of the rites the Vestals — symbols “of all things pure and good in Woman and Home” — did in the Ancient Roman festivals, according to the June 1917 edition of L.W.L. Life.
Here are the first and last verses the Seniors would recite at the Lux Vestalia:
Prologue
You are in ancient Rome, the skies are blue;
In reverential mood, you make your way
Within a temple, where the sun bursts through
With lordly stride, to recreate the day,
And, as you think of her, once vital here,
The ruling goddess of the home, the hearth,
You seem to see a pageant drawing near —
To see the Vesta ritual’s rebirth.
Stands Vesta on an altar there above;
Within her hands an urn of living fire,
The flame of Purity, of Truth, of Love,
Six Vestals guarding lest the spark expire.
“No home is blessed,” you hear the goddess say,
“Unless the hearthfire from this urn be lit.
Love in the home will wither and decay
Unless the flame of Vesta nourish it.”
The matrons hearing, throng about the urn,
Each offers there her hearth — a torch unlit.
At Vesta’s touch behold it glow and burn,
Then turns each matron home to cherish it.
Look ye with reverent eyes! The maids bear gifts,
In thanks to Vesta for the light she brings.
Leave ye with reverent steps, your day dream drifts,
The pageant fades — an oriole faintly sings.
Spirit of Lux
Vesta, thou goddess of the hearth and home,
The spirit of the Lux School greets thee now;
E’en as the fairest maids of ancient Rome
Brought their thank offerings to thee, bending low,
Grateful that thou hadst lighted them the way
Toward humble homes, to make them glorified,
Bring we our gifts, e’er yet another day.
Bring we our gifts to have them sanctified.
Vesta, our choicest food, we bring to thee;
May want ne’er find a ready entrance here.
We bring the distaff, symbol may it be
Of clothing and of comfort and of cheer;
And we bring water, cleanser of the home;
Bless thou these gifts — each servest so to tell
The home-maker her duty as it comes :
To do the common things uncommonly well.
Bless thou our homely tasks from day to day,
Bless thou the brands that from our hearth go forth,
Bless thou thy maidens as they take their way,
Bless thou the home-life over all the earth,
Bearing our glowing ember forth we fare;
With reverent steps we leave the hallowed shrine
To tend this flame, our sacred charge and care,
O Heaven-born Light! Light of Home Divine!
