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Calendar MMDCCLXVI A.U.C. - 2013
Q: Why so many festivals? Do I have to do them all? A: Romans didn't have weekends, so frequent holidays broke up the unrelenting days of work. No, you don't have to do them all. The calendars that have survived, called "fasti", include lists of the big "national" festivals. Participation in these festivals was optional, and as a practical matter, most people couldn't participate. On the other hand, each family could observe what they wanted and many may have observed these days in their own ways. Today, the calendar can be a way to remind us of the rich variety of Roman spiritual life. It is also good, but not required, for families and communities around the world to share in a common rhythm around the year. A good idea would be to honor Juno on the Kalends and Jupiter on the Ides with a brief ceremony each month, and to observe the three unlucky days (dies atri) by taking the precautions that are listed below. Add to that schedule whatever holidays you wish to, and observe them with your family or community in as Roman a way as possible. We particularly suggest making Saturnalia, in December, an important observance in your year. Important days in the month.The first day of every month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Kalends ritual is usually celebrated early in the morning (before breakfast) by the head of the household. Bathe and offer incense and prayers to Iuno at your lararium. The Nones is on the 5th day and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, is on the 13th day of every month except March, May, July and October. They are on the 7th and 15th of these months. The day following each of the Kalends, Nones and Ides is an unlucky day (dies ater, plural, dies atri). On these days:
Normal work would still be performed on dies atri, and as part of performing any work one performs rites for the patron deities, geni locii, and other appropriate deities. Likewise, the daily routine is also performed before the lararium.
The Year in the Cultus Deorum.This page links to the daily calendar posts by M. Moravius Piscinus Horatianus. JanuaryJanuary is named for Janus, god of doorways, endings and beginnings. The first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater). Legend: A = Dies Ater (see above) F = Dies Fastus: legal action is permitted C = Dies Comitialis: legal actions and voting may occur NP = Dies Nefastus Publicus: in these days public religious festivals were celebrated. EN = Dies Endotercisus: see description in the page of each relevant day
FebruaryThe first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater).
On Leap Years:
MarchThe first day of each month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 7th. The Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 15th. The 2nd, 8th and 16th are unlucky (ater).
AprilThe first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater).
MayThe first day of each month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 7th. The Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 15th. The 2nd, 8th and 16th are unlucky (ater).
JuneThe first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater).
JulyJuly is the Roman month of Quintilis. The first day of each month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 7th. The Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 15th. The 2nd, 8th and 16th are unlucky (ater).
AugustAugust is the Roman month of Sextilis. The first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater).
SeptemberThe first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater). The major event this month is the Ludi Romani (Roman Games).
OctoberThe first day of each month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 7th. The Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 15th. The 2nd, 8th and 16th are unlucky (ater).
NovemberThe first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater).
DecemberThe first day of the month is the Kalends, sacred to Juno. The Nones falls on the 5th and the Ides, sacred to Jupiter, falls on the 13th. The 2nd, 6th and 14th are unlucky (ater).
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