The secret society of Rose Polenzani and friends performing monthly at the Lizard Lounge.

This residency at the Lizard Lounge began on the heels of "Rose Fest" – a one night get together that happened impromptu in August 2007, to fill a cancellation at the Lizard Lounge. Songstress extraordinaire Rose Polenzani, joined by friends Rose Cousins, Jennifer Kimball , members of Session Americana, David Champagne, Anne Heaton, Katie Champagne and many others, put together a free wheeling, unrehearsed celebration of tremendous songwriting, joyous singing and spontaneous interviews. The night was so successful and so much fun that Rose Polenzani decided to hold session at the Lizard on a continuing basis. Each show will have at least one "stranger" – a singer/songwriter unknown to Rose and Company (Rose interviews the stranger). Look for shows to be scheduled on/near the last Tuesday of every month.

"Hey, why SUB ROSA"?
Historically, secret societies have been the subject of suspicion and speculation from non-members since the time of the ancient Greeks, when meetings were held "sub rosa" (Latin, "under the rose"). This phrase arrises from the fact that the rose was the emblem of the god Horus in ancient Egypt. Later the Greeks and Romans regarded Horus as god of silence. This originates from a Greek/Roman misinterpretation of an Egyptian hieroglyphic adopting Horus along with Isis and Osiris as a god. The Greeks translated his Egyptian name Har-pa-khered to Harpocrates. The rose’s connotation for secrecy also dates back to Greek mythology. Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros, the god of love; he, in turn, gave it to Harpocrates, the god of silence, to ensure that his mother’s indiscretions (or those of the gods in general, in other accounts) were kept under wraps. In the Middle Ages a rose suspended from the ceiling of a council chamber pledged all present (those under the rose) to secrecy. Today the phrases "Sub Rosa" and "under the rose" are commonly used to indicate secrecy. Since some secret societies have political aims, they are illegal in several countries. Poland has made the ban of secret political parties and political organizations a part of its constitution.