Flora

In Roman mythology, Flora was a Sabine-derived goddess of flowers and of the season of spring, a symbol for nature and flowers. While she was otherwise a relatively minor figure in Roman mythology, being one among several fertility goddesses, her association with the spring gave her particular importance at the coming of springtime as did her role as goddess of youth. Her Greek counterpart was Chloris, who was a nymph.

Flora was married to Favionus, the wind god also known as Zephyr and her companion was Hercules.

Etymology
Her name is derived from the Latin word flos, meaning "flower". In modern English, "flora" also means the plants of a particular region or period.

Festival
Her festival, the Floralia, was held between April 28 and May 3 and symbolized the renewal of the cycle of life, drinking, and flowers. The festival was first institute in 240 BCE but on the advice of the Sibylline books she was given another temple in 238 BCE. At the festival, with the men decked in flowers and the women wearing normally forbidden gay costumes, five days of forces and mimes were enacted followed by a sixth day of the hunting of goats and hares. On May 23, another festival was held in her honor.