Wilson's Almanac on Roman festivals

Related terms: Ancient Rome holidays

 

 

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A list of Roman festivals in the Book of Days

 

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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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