The Megalesia Ludi
The Megalesia were the Ludi organized in honour of Magna Mater, a tradition originating in 191 BC. They were celebrated in a variety of ways. The celebrations typically commenced on April 4, when families of the Patrician order invited eachother to dinners called 'Mutitationes' [Fasti Praenestini]. Interestingly, the Senate in 161 BC officially decreed that hosts of these feasts had to swear before the Consuls that they would not spend on each dinner more than 120 'asses' in addition to vegetables, bread and wine, nor serve foreign wines, nor display more than 120 lb of silverware [Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 2.24]. These banquets are also referred to by Ovidius [Ovidius, Fasti, IV.353-356], although he seems to imply that participants other than Patricians also invited each other for dinner. Theatrical performances honoured the Goddess between April 4 and April 10, and on the birthday of the Temple of the Magna Mater, located on the Palatine Hill, a public sacrifice was offered by a Praetor before the temple [Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Antiquities of Rome, 2.19.4]. Chariot races also took place, probably on April 10 only. Ovidius writes that the proper offering to Magna Mater was a salad ('moretum') of white cheese and herbs:

From the above, one can easily define suitable ways to honour Magna Mater according to the more public and traditional practice which everyone could witness - as opposed to the exotic and secret rites held as part of the Mysteries of the Magna Mater and Attis, the particulars of which were known only to the initiates.

The offering of a salad ('moretum') of white cheese and herbs to the Goddess can be performed as part of one's daily rites before the "Lararium", e.g. after the usual offering to the Lares and Penates of the family. But it can also constitute a separate rite. The presiding family member typically, but not necessarily, is the 'Paterfamilias'. For purposes of consistency and simplicity, the term 'Paterfamilias' shall be used in the ritual description below as the presiding performer of the rite. Note that either English or Latin may be used, as preferred.

Before the Lararium, the Paterfamilias begins the ritual by citing the following text (the presence of a statue or picture of the Magna Mater on the Lararium is recommended, so that the Paterfamilias can see the Goddess while performing the offering).

The Paterfamilias washes his hands. An assistant may carry the water vessel and the towel; otherwise these items should be placed near/behind the Paterfamilias before the ritual begins, in order to prevent the ritual from being interrupted.

The Paterfamilias takes the recipient with the salad offered to him, and while placing it before the Lararium or image of Magna Mater, says the following:

Note: The salad offering will stay before the Lararium or image of the Goddess until the first signs of its degradation - one or two days. It can then be removed and thrown away

The Ritual of the Mutationes may be concluded with a prayer. If a group of people are present such as family members or friends you have invited to witness the ritual (e.g. people you have invited to have a 'Mutitatio' dinner in your home!) they may all participate by saying the prayer in chorus. Or, the Paterfamilias may cite a few words of the prayer at a time, and then allow the group to repeat them back to him in unison, until the entire prayer has been offered. Women may kneel before the rest of the audience as suppliants.

The following is a short prayer I have composed, which adds a public dimension to the rite as it is intended for the Roman people as a whole. And my plea is for you, Roman People of the Quirites, to join your voices in a worldwide chorus pleasing Magna Mater, so that a better future may again fall on the SPQR.