festival, in a wall painting from
Pompeii Festivals
(feriae) were an important part of
Roman religious life during both the
Republican and
Imperial eras, and were one of the primary features of the
Roman calendar.
Feriae ("holidays" in the sense of "holy days") were either public
(publicae) or private
(privatae). State holidays were celebrated by the Roman people and received public funding.
Feriae privatae were holidays celebrated in honor of private individuals or by families. The 1st-century BC scholar
Varro defined
feriae as "days instituted for the sake of the gods." A deity's festival often marked the anniversary (
dies natalis, "birthday") of the founding of the deity's temple, or a rededication after a major renovation. Public business was suspended for the performance of religious rites on the
feriae.
Cicero says that people who were free should not engage in lawsuits and quarrels, and
slaves should get a break from their labors. On calendars of the Republic and early Empire, the
religious status days were marked by letters such as
F (for
fastus), and
N (for
nefastus, when political activities and the administration of justice were prohibited). By the late 2nd century AD, extant calendars no longer show these letters, probably as a result of calendar reforms undertaken by
Marcus Aurelius that recognized the changed religious environment of the empire.
for April (
Aprilis), with the festivals of Vinalia (VIN)
and Robigalia (ROB)'' marked in capital letters On surviving Roman calendars, festivals that appear in large capital letters (such as the
Lupercalia and
Parilia) are thought to have been the most ancient holidays, becoming part of the calendar before 509 BC. Some of the oldest festivals are not named for deities. During the
Imperial period, several traditional festivals localized at Rome became less important, and the birthdays and anniversaries of the emperor and his family gained prominence as Roman holidays. Games
(ludi), such as the
Ludi Apollinares, were often dedicated to particular deities, but were not technically
feriae, although they might be holidays in the modern sense of days off work
(dies festi). After the mid-1st century AD, there were more frequent
spectacles and games (circenses) held in the venue called a "
circus", in honor of various deities or for imperial anniversaries
(dies Augusti). A religious festival held on a single day, such as the
Floralia, might be expanded with games over multiple days
(Ludi Florae); the festival of
Flora is seen as a precursor of
May Day festivities. A major source for Roman holidays is
Ovid's
Fasti, a poem that describes and provides origins for festivals from
January to
June at the time of
Augustus. Because it ends with June, less is known about Roman festivals in the second half of the year, with the exception of the
Saturnalia, a religious festival in honor of
Saturn on December 17 that expanded with celebrations through December 23. Probably the best-known Roman festival, some of its customs, such as gift-giving and the prevalence of candles, are thought to have influenced popular celebrations of
Christmas. == Buddhist ==