CLUB CELEBRATIONS
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During the year we have Club Celebrations for our private entertainment that are kept updated on this calendar.
The Romans loved holidays, whether it be religious festivals, feasts and drinking parties, commemorating a glorious victory, or mourning a disastrous defeat (rather rare). Our club get-togethers are a fun way to learn of Roman history, traditions and beliefs, but mainly just to enjoy ourselves. Below is a brief monthly list of some of the Roman celebrations, or "any excuse for a party!" |
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Ianuarius
1. (Kalends) Consuls enter office, accompanied by vota publica (public vows for the well-being of the republic or emperor) and the taking of auspices.
3-5. Compitalia celebrated in honor of Lares Compitales – household deities who preside over the cross-ways (compita). At property boundaries small shrines offer thanks for the coming year. A common dinner is held.
10. On this day 49 BC Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon to initiate Civil War - Alea iacta est "The die is cast!"
27. Dies natalis of the Temple of Castor and Pollux. Ludi Castores (Games of the Castors) patrons of cavalry, athletes and sailors.
Februarius
5-17. Fornacalia. Oven Festival celebration of baking.
13-15. Lupercalia "Wolf Festival" of purification. Two youths wearing skins as Romulus and Remus run around Rome striking passers-by with bloody goat-skin strips. Corn cakes eaten. Valentine's Day.
13-21. Parentalia ceremony for the spirits of the dead.
21. Feralia ceremony. Visit tombs with sacred offerings of bread soaked in wine, salt, wheat, flower garlands and petals.
22. Caristia ceremony celebrates life with Cara Cognatio “feast of family love" banquet and gift exchange. A reconciliation day when all disagreements should be put aside, all conflicts forgotten and everyone pardoned. Offerings of grape, grain, honey sweets, and wine to the Lares. Then the real celebration begins around the table with a potluck dinner, eating and drinking.
Martius
1. Original New Year's Day when the sacred fire of Rome was renewed; the dancing armed priesthood of the Salii celebrated the dies natalis (birthday) of Mars; also the Matronalia, in honor of Juno Lucina, Mars' mother
9. a dies religiosus when the Salii carried the sacred shields (ancilia) around the city again
15. (Ides) Feast of Anna Perenna (goddess of the year) with heavy drinking. You should drink as many drinks as many years you would like to live. Anniversary of assassination of Julius Caesar.
17. Liberalia, in honour of Liber.
19. Quinquatria five-day holiday for Minerva.
21. EQUINOX ("Equal-night")
23. Tubilustrium, purification of the trumpets.
25. Good Friday Passion Play re-enactment of the Roman crucifixion of Christ
Aprilis
1. Veneralia in honour of Venus
3. DAYLIGHT SAVING
4–10. Megalesia games in honor of Cybele, the Magna Mater (Great Mother).
12–19. Cerialia festival and games for Ceres.
13. (Ides) anniversary of the Temple of Jupiter Victor
21. Birthday of Rome founded 753 BC
23. Vinalia Priora (First Wine) festival for the previous year's wine, held for Jupiter and Venus
27-May 3. Ludi Florales games in honour of Flora, sacrifice to Maia
Maius
Mother's Day (second Sunday in May)
9, 11, 13. Lemuria festival of the dead with a sacrifice to Mania
15. (Ides) Mercuralia, in honor of Mercury
23. A second Tubilustrium; Feriae for Volcanus (Vulcan)
Iunius
1. Anniversary of the Temple of Juno Moneta
3. Anniversary of the Temple of Bellona
7. Ludi Piscatorii, "Fishermen's Games"
7–15. Vestalia, in honour of Vesta; June 9 was a dies religiosus to her
8. Anniversary of the Temple of Mens
11. Matralia in honour of Mater Matuta
13 (Ides)–15. Quinquatrus minusculae (lesser 5-day-party) celebrated by tibicines, flute-players for religious ceremonies
21. SOLSTICE ("Sun-still")
29. anniversary of the Temple of Hercules Musarum, Hercules of the Muses
Iulius
5. Poplifugia
6–13. Ludi Apollinares, games in honour of Apollo, first celebrated to secure his aid against Hannibal in 211 BC
7 (Nones). Ancillarum Feriae (Festival of the Serving Women)
14–19. Mercatus markets fairs, following the Ludi Apollinares; not religious holidays
15 (Ides). Transvectio equitum, a procession of cavalry
17. Anniversary of the Temple of Honos and Virtus; sacrifice to Victory
18. Dies ater (black day) marking sack of Rome by the Gauls in 390 BC
20–30. Ludi Victoriae Caesaris, games of the Victorious Caesar to fulfill his vow at the Battle of Pharsalus 48 BC
23. Neptunalia held in honour of Neptune
Augustus
9. Public sacrifice to Sol Indiges
12. Sacrifice of a heifer to Hercules Invictus, with a libation from the skyphos of Hercules
13 (Ides). Festival of Diana, with slaves given the day off
19. Vinalia Rustica in honour of Jupiter and Venus
23. Vulcanalia or Feriae Volcano in honour of Vulcan
24. First of three days when the mysterious ritual pit called the mundus was opened
28. Games at the Circus Maximus (circenses) for Sol and Luna
September
1. Ceremonies for Jupiter Tonans ("the Thunderer") and Juno Regina
Father's Day (first Sunday of September)
4–19. Ludi Romani or Ludi Magni, "the oldest and most famous" of the ludi in honor of Jupiter, or perhaps Father Liber
21. EQUINOX ("Equal-night")
20–23. Mercatus market fairs immediately following the Ludi Romani
25. DAYLIGHT SAVING
October
3–12. Ludi Augustales, established 14 AD after the death of Augustus, based on the Augustalia
4. Ieiunium Cereris, a day of fasting in honour of Ceres
6. Dies ater (black day) to mark the anniversary of the battle of Arausio (105 BC)
15. (Ides) October Horse sacrifice to Mars in the Campus Martius
16. Lupinalia, the Festival of Wolves
26 - Nov 1. Ludi Victoriae Sullanae, "Victory Games of Sulla", established as an annual event in 81 BC
31. Halloween - originally the Lemuria festival of the dead, but date changed by Pope Gregory IV in 835 AD.
November
4–17. Plebeian Games, established 216 BC and held in the Circus
18–20. Mercatus market fairs
December
3. Bona Dea (Good Goddess) rites for women only
5. (Nones) a country festival for Faunus held by the pagi
17–23: Saturnalia in honour of Saturn, devoted to gift-giving
21. SOLSTICE ("Sun-still")
25: Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birthday of the Unconquered Sun)
1. (Kalends) Consuls enter office, accompanied by vota publica (public vows for the well-being of the republic or emperor) and the taking of auspices.
3-5. Compitalia celebrated in honor of Lares Compitales – household deities who preside over the cross-ways (compita). At property boundaries small shrines offer thanks for the coming year. A common dinner is held.
10. On this day 49 BC Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon to initiate Civil War - Alea iacta est "The die is cast!"
27. Dies natalis of the Temple of Castor and Pollux. Ludi Castores (Games of the Castors) patrons of cavalry, athletes and sailors.
Februarius
5-17. Fornacalia. Oven Festival celebration of baking.
13-15. Lupercalia "Wolf Festival" of purification. Two youths wearing skins as Romulus and Remus run around Rome striking passers-by with bloody goat-skin strips. Corn cakes eaten. Valentine's Day.
13-21. Parentalia ceremony for the spirits of the dead.
21. Feralia ceremony. Visit tombs with sacred offerings of bread soaked in wine, salt, wheat, flower garlands and petals.
22. Caristia ceremony celebrates life with Cara Cognatio “feast of family love" banquet and gift exchange. A reconciliation day when all disagreements should be put aside, all conflicts forgotten and everyone pardoned. Offerings of grape, grain, honey sweets, and wine to the Lares. Then the real celebration begins around the table with a potluck dinner, eating and drinking.
Martius
1. Original New Year's Day when the sacred fire of Rome was renewed; the dancing armed priesthood of the Salii celebrated the dies natalis (birthday) of Mars; also the Matronalia, in honor of Juno Lucina, Mars' mother
9. a dies religiosus when the Salii carried the sacred shields (ancilia) around the city again
15. (Ides) Feast of Anna Perenna (goddess of the year) with heavy drinking. You should drink as many drinks as many years you would like to live. Anniversary of assassination of Julius Caesar.
17. Liberalia, in honour of Liber.
19. Quinquatria five-day holiday for Minerva.
21. EQUINOX ("Equal-night")
23. Tubilustrium, purification of the trumpets.
25. Good Friday Passion Play re-enactment of the Roman crucifixion of Christ
Aprilis
1. Veneralia in honour of Venus
3. DAYLIGHT SAVING
4–10. Megalesia games in honor of Cybele, the Magna Mater (Great Mother).
12–19. Cerialia festival and games for Ceres.
13. (Ides) anniversary of the Temple of Jupiter Victor
21. Birthday of Rome founded 753 BC
23. Vinalia Priora (First Wine) festival for the previous year's wine, held for Jupiter and Venus
27-May 3. Ludi Florales games in honour of Flora, sacrifice to Maia
Maius
Mother's Day (second Sunday in May)
9, 11, 13. Lemuria festival of the dead with a sacrifice to Mania
15. (Ides) Mercuralia, in honor of Mercury
23. A second Tubilustrium; Feriae for Volcanus (Vulcan)
Iunius
1. Anniversary of the Temple of Juno Moneta
3. Anniversary of the Temple of Bellona
7. Ludi Piscatorii, "Fishermen's Games"
7–15. Vestalia, in honour of Vesta; June 9 was a dies religiosus to her
8. Anniversary of the Temple of Mens
11. Matralia in honour of Mater Matuta
13 (Ides)–15. Quinquatrus minusculae (lesser 5-day-party) celebrated by tibicines, flute-players for religious ceremonies
21. SOLSTICE ("Sun-still")
29. anniversary of the Temple of Hercules Musarum, Hercules of the Muses
Iulius
5. Poplifugia
6–13. Ludi Apollinares, games in honour of Apollo, first celebrated to secure his aid against Hannibal in 211 BC
7 (Nones). Ancillarum Feriae (Festival of the Serving Women)
14–19. Mercatus markets fairs, following the Ludi Apollinares; not religious holidays
15 (Ides). Transvectio equitum, a procession of cavalry
17. Anniversary of the Temple of Honos and Virtus; sacrifice to Victory
18. Dies ater (black day) marking sack of Rome by the Gauls in 390 BC
20–30. Ludi Victoriae Caesaris, games of the Victorious Caesar to fulfill his vow at the Battle of Pharsalus 48 BC
23. Neptunalia held in honour of Neptune
Augustus
9. Public sacrifice to Sol Indiges
12. Sacrifice of a heifer to Hercules Invictus, with a libation from the skyphos of Hercules
13 (Ides). Festival of Diana, with slaves given the day off
19. Vinalia Rustica in honour of Jupiter and Venus
23. Vulcanalia or Feriae Volcano in honour of Vulcan
24. First of three days when the mysterious ritual pit called the mundus was opened
28. Games at the Circus Maximus (circenses) for Sol and Luna
September
1. Ceremonies for Jupiter Tonans ("the Thunderer") and Juno Regina
Father's Day (first Sunday of September)
4–19. Ludi Romani or Ludi Magni, "the oldest and most famous" of the ludi in honor of Jupiter, or perhaps Father Liber
21. EQUINOX ("Equal-night")
20–23. Mercatus market fairs immediately following the Ludi Romani
25. DAYLIGHT SAVING
October
3–12. Ludi Augustales, established 14 AD after the death of Augustus, based on the Augustalia
4. Ieiunium Cereris, a day of fasting in honour of Ceres
6. Dies ater (black day) to mark the anniversary of the battle of Arausio (105 BC)
15. (Ides) October Horse sacrifice to Mars in the Campus Martius
16. Lupinalia, the Festival of Wolves
26 - Nov 1. Ludi Victoriae Sullanae, "Victory Games of Sulla", established as an annual event in 81 BC
31. Halloween - originally the Lemuria festival of the dead, but date changed by Pope Gregory IV in 835 AD.
November
4–17. Plebeian Games, established 216 BC and held in the Circus
18–20. Mercatus market fairs
December
3. Bona Dea (Good Goddess) rites for women only
5. (Nones) a country festival for Faunus held by the pagi
17–23: Saturnalia in honour of Saturn, devoted to gift-giving
21. SOLSTICE ("Sun-still")
25: Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birthday of the Unconquered Sun)
ROMAN FASTI CALENDAR
