The title is a parody of the Latin "alma mater" or translated "nourishing mother" which was traditionally used in ancient Rome to describe anyone of several mother goddesses (i.e. Ceres or Cybele). During the Medieval era, the Christian religion used it as a term for the Virgin Mary, the mother of baby Jesus. Today alumni use the term to describe the college or university they graduated from or the song or hymn associated with that school.