On this day in ancient history, March 24:
In ancient Roman history, the 24th of March (VIII Kal Apriles) was the Dies sanguinis 'day of blood,' possibly a precursor of Good Friday. 
On the 22 of March, the arbor intrat, a procession of palms or a pine tree was brought to the shrine of Cybele. Two days later, at the Day of the Blood, the priests of Cybele slashed themselves and spun around to sprinkle her statue with blood.
The Day of Blood originally appeared on About.com Ancient / Classical History on Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 at 06:50:43.