Lares
Intention: Honor household spirits and family continuity
Offerings & Symbols
- A small household shrine or shelf
- Food set aside at meals
- A family photograph
Culture: Ancient Roman Domain: Household protection, family continuity
The Lares are household guardian spirits, honored daily at a small shrine (the lararium) in nearly every Roman home, often understood as protective ancestral spirits watching over the family and its property across generations.
Associations
Household protection, ancestors, daily domestic devotion, family continuity.
Ways people honor them (modern)
- Keep a small household shrine or dedicated shelf
- Set aside a small portion of food or drink at family meals
- Display photos or tokens of ancestors with care
- Read about the daily rhythm of Roman household lararium worship
Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.
