Calendar of Holidays and Festivals

Martius

Aprilis

Maius

Junius

Quinctilis

Sextilis

September

October

November

December

Januarius

Februarius

NOTE: a new interactive calendar is available at http://www.novaroma.org/bin/calendar/cview.

The ancient Romans did not use days of the week and number their days of the month as we do today. The ancient reckoning of days of the month was by counting back from either the Kalends, Nones, or Ides of the month. Counting was done inclusively; i.e., the third day of Januarius would be reckoned "three days before the Nones of Januarius" or "III Non. Ian." The year begins with the month of Martius (this was later changed to the month of Januarius by Gaius Julius Caesar, but Nova Roma retains the earlier, more traditional starting date).

On days labeled "Market Day" the Citizens of Rome would enter the city to buy and sell their wares and produce. They would share the news of the day and the bonds of community were certainly strengthened. Nova Roma continues the spirit of this practice today, as live chats are held in the Forum Romanum chat room on market days from 9 PM to 10 PM eastern time.

Chief sources for the calendar are Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic by H.H. Scullard (Cornell University Press, 1981), Dictionary of Roman Religion by Lesley and Roy Adkins (Facts on File, 1996), The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick (Destiny Books, 1992), and A Dictionary of the Roman Empire by Matthew Bunson (Oxford University Press, 1991).

A dies comitalis is a day on which citizens may vote on political or criminal matters.
A dies fastus is a day on which legal action is permitted.
A dies nefastus is a day on which no legal action or public voting may occur.
An endotercisus is a day that function as dies fastus in the morning and dies comitalis in the afternoon.
A nefastus publicus is a day on which public religious festivals are celebrated.