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This
is a List of festivals in Ancient Rome ,
including religious feasts, normal games and political activities,
organized by date. Some of these festivals were instituted in
different eras. When possible, the initial date is stated.
The most
important festivals were the Saturnalia ,
the Bacchanalia ,
the Lupercalia
and the Bona Dea
rites. Please note that dates are in some cases approximate.
March 1
Roman New Year
Matronalia, in honour of Juno
Feriae Marti, in honour of Mars
The sacred fire of Rome was renewed
March 14
Equirria
March 15
- 16
Bacchanalia, in honour of Bacchus
March 19
- 23
Quinquatria, in honour of Minerva
March 30 Festival of Salus
April 1
Veneralia, in honour of Venus
April 12
- 19 Circensian Games, (Circenses Ludi, or Ludi
Romani, games for the people), Ludi Cerali, games in honour of
Cerealia (since 202 BCE )
April 15
Fordicia, in honour of Terra
April 15
Parilia, in honour of Pales
April 15
Robigalia, in honour of Robigus, with foot races
April 28
- May 3 Ludi Florales (Floralia), games in honour of Flora
May 3
- 4
Tarentia, Festival of Bona Dea (as early as May 1 )
May 9
Lemuralia (Feast of the larvae, or lemures)
May 15 Mercuralia, in honour of Mercury
May 26
- 31 Festival of Diana
May 31
Ludi saeculares, centennial games
May 31
Ambarvalia, fetsival of Dea Dia/Ceres
June 3
Festival in honour of Bellona
June 7
-
15
Vestalia, in honour of Vesta
June 13
Quinquatrus minusculae, in honour of Minerva
June 20
Festival in honour of Summanus
June 23
Day of bad omens: anniversary of the battle of Lake Trasimene,
where a Roman army was destroyed by Hannibal
July 5
Poplifugia, festival in honour of Jupiter
July 6
-
13
Ludi Apollinares, games in honour of Apollo (since 208
BCE )
July 7 -
8 Nonae Caprotinae fig festival in honour of Caprotina, an aspect of Juno
July 7
Consualia (Ludi Consualia), games and races in honour of Consus
July 18
Day of bad omens: defeat in Allia (390 BCE )
that led to the sack of Rome by the Gauls
July 23
Neptunalia held in honour of Neptune and Salacia
August
10
Festival in honour of Ops
August
13
Vertumnalias in honour of Vertumnus
August
17
Portunalia in honour of Portunes
August
18
Vinalia Rustica in honour of Venus, commemorating the
founding of the oldest known temple to her in 293 BCE
August
21 Consualia (Ludi
Consualia), games and races in honour of Consus
August
23
Vulcanalia, in honour of Vulcan
August
25
Opiconsivia, in honour of Ops
August
27 Volturnalia, in honour of Volturnus
September
4 - 19 Circensian Games, organized by the curule aedile (since 366
BCE )
September
13 Lectisternium in honour of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva;
Day of Driving the Nail
October 6
Day of bad omens: anniversary of the battle of Arausio (105
BCE )
October
11 Meditrinalia is held in
honour of Meditrina
October
13 Fontinalia, festival
dedicated to Fontus
October
15
Equirria, the 'equus October' sacrificed to Mars in
the Campus Martius
October
19 Armilustrium in honour of Mars
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