lenaia

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. In Greek antiquity, an Athenian festival in honor of Dionysus (Bacchus), celebrated in the ancient temple of that god, called the Lenaion, to the south of the Acropolis. It was the second of the series of Dionysiac festivals, and took place during the month of Gamelion (part of January and February); it was the occasion of a procession, and of dramatic contests in both tragedy and comedy. See Bacchus and Dionysia.