Radio Far Side
January 24, 2025
The verb "to inaugurate" originates from Latin and has roots connected to Roman religious practices and rituals. The Latin root is inaugurāre, meaning "to install, consecrate, or dedicate (something or someone) by omens."
Augurs were Roman priests who interpreted omens (especially the flight patterns of birds) to determine the will of the gods. This would seem to explain the need for black-robed high priests wielding sacred texts and invoking deities on the first day of a new job.