Events in the ancient Roman Calendar
Since the earliest days, the ancient Roman calendar was closely associated with religious observance and feasts. A number of these are outlined with their respective months. For example, in February we have the purifying feast of the “Lupercalia”, and the feast of the ghosts of the dead called “Feralia”.
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The ancient Roman calendar had numerous feasts and ludi, also enjoyed at the circus. A number of major ones are outlined below.
- In the Roman calendar for February we have the purifying feast of the Lupercalia and the feast of the ghosts of the dead called Feralia.
- On the first of March we have the Salii priests dancing about to start the war season.
- On the 14th March there’s the “Equirria” horse races and on the 23rd the Tubilustrium – purifying of (war) trumpets.
- April: During six days from the day before the Nones until the Ides we have the Ludi Megalenses. From the day before the Ides we have eight days of Ludi Cereales.
- In Spring we also have the Ludi Florales
- On the Ides of May and the Kalends of August we have the Ludi Martiales.
- On the 9th, 11th and 13th of May we have the Lemures feast to all spirits (a sort of all Saints or Hallowe’en)
- 11th June we have the feasts of Mater Matuta and Fortuna
- Nones of July we have the Ludi Apollinares.
- 17th August we have the Portunalia – feast in honor of Portunus.
- From the day before the nones to the day before the ides of the September we have the Ludi Romani in the Circus.
- On the Kalends of September we have the Ludi Consuales
- In October there’s the closing of the war season with the Tigillum Sororium and Armilustrium feasts and purification of the soldier’s horses.
- The feast of the Saturnalia lasted six days starting from the 17th December.