2 Maccabees 6:5-7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
5 so that the altar was covered with abominable offerings prohibited by the laws.
6 No one could keep the sabbath or celebrate the traditional feasts, nor even admit to being a Jew. 7 Moreover, at the monthly celebration of the king’s birthday the Jews, from bitter necessity, had to partake of the sacrifices, and when the festival of Dionysus[a] was celebrated, they were compelled to march in his procession, wearing wreaths of ivy.(A)
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- 6:7 Dionysus: also called Bacchus, the god of the grape harvest and of wine; ivy was one of his symbols.
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