Lemures

Yesterday I learned a new word: lemur. As always, as soon as I heard it, I started asking myself about its etymology. Where did it come from? Why would you call this funny animal lemur and not something else? I did find some answers and here I am, sharing this with you. 

It seems that the name comes from the Latin lemures, “spirits of the dead” in Roman mythology. They were named so for their big, reflective eyes, for their nocturnal habits and ghostly stares. Also, add the odd noises they make to get the full picture. 

Also, Lemuralia was a pagan festival during which the Romans remembered the dead and cast out restless spirits, a sort of annual exorcisms of the malevolent ghosts.