La Stenia was a celebration of Demeter and of Persephone held three days before Thesmophoria.
Little is known about this holiday except that it was celebrated exclusively by women and that ritualized banter, fake obscenity and insults are said to have figured prominently. It would have coincided with the beginning of the ritual purification of women who would celebrate Thesmophoria.
This may also have been the time when other women, called "the scoops", would fetch the offerings for the Thesmophoria from the pits into which they were thrown at the Skirophoria.
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