New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/25/2016 -- To most New Yorkers, hauntings, ghosts and even exorcisms brings to mind thoughts of scary houses located somewhere in the suburbs. But if one were to ask an ancient Roman citizen the same question, visions of ghostly specters invading their homes accompanied by ritualistic exorcisms would be their first reaction. In fact, the ancient Romans even marked their calendars for two very important ghostly holidays whose importance was held in such reverence it shut down the entire empire!

No question about it, the ancient Romans took their ghost seriously! From a national holiday centering around Roman cemeteries that honored the souls of the dead, to a festival whose main purpose was to exorcise some rather nasty spirits. And the Ghost Doctors (known as Dr. Pete and Dr. Stew) paranormal investigators and licensed NYC tour guides feel that these ancient Roman holidays can be reawakened right in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's own Greco-Roman Hall.

"Due to the Met's amazing collection of ancient Roman funerary artifacts, this Roman section of the museum is an ideal place to search for some paranormal activity," says Dr. Stew.

According to the Ghost Doctors the ancient Romans celebrated two "ghostly" themed holidays. One was Parentalia -- a nine day solemn festival that honored the souls of the dead at the grave sites of the departed. During the duration of this period, virtually all businesses, temples and government offices were shut down while people left food, flowers and gifts at family burial grounds. The other holiday was somewhat of a scary ordeal that was observed in the family's home. It involved an integral ritual to exorcise the ancestral "restless dead." This festival was called "Lemuria" and like a scene out of the movie "The Exorcist," the head of the household would perform ceremonial rites in an attempt to drive the frightful ghosts out.

"In fact the ancient Roman festival Parentalia actually begins February 13th and last for nine days. And with this in mind we can literally celebrate and possibly uncover a few spirited souls who just love hanging around the Met...especially during the holidays, the Roman holidays that is," say Dr. Pete.

The Ghost Doctors who lead groups of amateur ghost hunters (with equipment and all) on paranormal adventures through some of New York's most historic and iconic locations, are expecting the Roman galleries this coming Roman Parentalia festival to add yet another enchanting facet to their intriguing paranormal jaunts through the Met.

"Every time we take a group out on an exploration of this amazing museum, we never know what we will encounter, says Dr. Stew. "From galleries displaying ancient Egyptian antiquities to now those demonstrating the rise of Rome's world wide influence, the Met is without a doubt one heck of a place to go ghost hunting."

About Ghost Doctors
Ghost Doctors (http://www.ghostdoctors.com), is the premier ghost hunting tour in NYC that actually allows participants to experience "real" ghost hunts. Their ghosts hunts are suited for public, private and corporate events.