 As long as the curtain remained open, mothers could come, barefoot and disheveled, to leave offerings to the goddess in exchange for a blessing to them and their family.The animal consecrated to Vesta, the donkey, was crowned with garlands of flowers and bits of bread on 9 June.The final day (15 June) was Q(uando) S(tercum) D(elatum) F(as) ["when dung may be removed lawfully"] - the "penus Vestae" was solemnly closed; the "Flaminica Dialis" observed mourning, and the temple was subjected to a purification called "stercoratio"