ANTHESERIA, in Antiquity, was a feast celebrated by the Athenians in honour of Bacchus. The most natural derivation of the word is from the Greek anthes (flor), a flower, it being the custom at this feast to offer garlands of flowers to Bacchus.
The antheseria lasted three days, the 11th, 12th, and 13th of the month; each of which had a name suited to the proper office of the day. The first day of the feast was called antheseria, i. e. opening of the vessels, because on this day they tapped the vessels, and tasted the wine. The second day they called antheseria, congi, the name of a measure containing the weight of 10 pounds;
on this they drank the wine prepared the day before. The third day they called antheseria, kettles: on this day they boiled all sorts of pulse in kettles; which however they were not allowed to taste, as being offered to Mercury.