13th-21st Parentalia
This occasion was in honour of the dead parents.
The Romans visited their parents graves, and placed flowers, milk and wine on their graves so the dead wouldn’t get hungry or thirsty.
15th Lupercalia
This ceremony was for women who wanted to have children.
Two groups of young men gathered at the ‘Lupercal’, which was a cave on the Palatine.
The youths raced around the hill, as crowds watched.
These racers were dressed in sacrificed goatskin, and were smeared with blood.
As they ran, they whipped goatskin at the spectators.
The women had to stand near the race to be whipped, because the whipping was said to promote fertility (The holiday has become today’s Valentine’s Day.)
22nd Caristia
This was a happy feast which concluded the Parentalia.
Families gathered to enjoy a cheerful dinner together.
February Rome Festivals by Day
February 1 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Juno Sospita begins
February 2 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Ceres, Festival of Juno Sospita ends
February 3 – Fornacalia continues
February 4 – Fornacalia continues
February 5 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia begins, Augustus receiving the title of “pater patriae” commemorated
February 6 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 7 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues, First day of Spring
February 8 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 9 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 10 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 11 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 12 – Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues, Festival of Callisto
February 13 – Parentalia begins, Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues, Festival of Vesta, Festival of Faunus, Commemoration of the fallen Fabii
February 14 – Parentalia continues, Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 15 – Parentalia continues, Lupercalia to Faunus, Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 16 – Parentalia continues, Fornacalia continues, Festival of Concordia continues
February 17 – Parentalia continues, Last day of Fornacalia, Last day of festival of Concordia, Quirinalia to Quirinus, Festival of Fornax
February 18 – Parentalia continues
February 19 – Parentalia continues
February 20 – Parentalia continues
February 21 – Last day of Parentalia, Feralia to Jupiter
February 22 – Festival of Concordia, Caristia in which family quarrels are forgotten (Cara Cognatio)
February 23 – Terminalia to Terminus
February 24 – Regifugium to commemorate the expulsion of Tarquin
February 27 – Equirria to Mars
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