The Cerealia, an annual festival of the goddess Ceres, was celebrated on this day in ancient Rome in order to secure the fertility of the crops. The sacred rites of Ceres began on this date and ended 8 days later.
In Taiwan, the goddess who presides over birth (Chu-Si-Niu) is honored annually with a religious festival. Pregnant women go to temples dedicated to her in order to recieve blessings for their unborn children.