| Domain | Definition | ||
| Antiquities | Feriae. Holidays at Rome, dedicated to the worship of some deity. A distinction was drawn between feriae privatae, or holidays observed by gentes, families, and individuals, and feriae publicae, or public holidays. Public holidays were either fixed or movable, or occasional. The fixed holidays (feriae stativae) were forty-five in number, and were celebrated every year on a definite day and registered accordingly in the calendar. The movable holidays (feriae conceptivae) were also annual, but were held on changing days, and had therefore to be announced beforehand by the consuls, or in their absence by the praetor. The occasional holidays (imperativae) were commanded on special occasions by the authorities with the consent of the pontifices. Such were, for instance, the supplicationes, a solemn service to the gods to celebrate a victory or the like. One of the principal movable festivals was the Feriae LatÄ«nae. This was originally a celebration by the Latin race held on the Alban Mount in honor of Iupiter Latiaris. It was subsequently transformed by Tarquinius Superbus into a festival of the Latin League. Its most notable ceremony consisted in the sacrifice of white bulls, a portion of whose flesh was distributed to each of the cities of the League represented at the sacrifice. If any city did not receive its portion, or if any other point in the ceremonial was omitted, the whole sacrifice had to be repeated. Originally it lasted one day, but afterwards was extended to four. It was then celebrated in part on the Alban Mount by the Roman consuls, in presence of all the magistrates; and in part on the Roman Capitol, a race being included in the performance. It was announced by the consuls immediately after their assumption of office, nor did they leave Rome for their provinces until they had celebrated it. The date therefore depended on that of the assumption of office by the higher magistrates. The Feriae SementÄ«vae or SementÄ«na Dies, were kept at Rome in the time of the sowing of the fields, for the purpose of praying to Tellus and Ceres for a good crop. It was fixed by the pontifices, and lasted for only one day (Varr. L. L. vi. 26). The Feriae VindemiÄles (Aug. 22-Oct. 15) were the vintage festival. The Feriae AestÄ«vae or Feriae Messis (June 24-Aug. 1) were the “summer vacation†when fashionable Romans went out of town (Gell. ix. 15). Feriae Praecidaneae were probably only days of preparation for the regular feriae (Gell. iv. 6). (references) | ||
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
Specialty Expressions: FERIAE
| Expressions | Domain | Definition | |
| Aeginetārum Feriae | Antiquities | Aeginetārum Feriae (Aiginêtôn heortê). A feast in honour of Poseidon, which lasted sixteen days, during which time every family took its meals alone without the attendance of the slaves. Its origin is described by Plutarch (Quaest. Graec. 44). (references) | |
| Denicāles Feriae | Antiquities | Denicāles Feriae. See Funus. (references) | |
| Feriae Latīnae | Antiquities | Feriae Latīnae. See Feriae. (references) | |
| Imperatīvae Feriae | Antiquities | Imperatīvae Feriae. See Feriae. (references) | |
| Latīnae Feriae | Antiquities | Latīnae Feriae. See Feriae. (references) | |
| Sementīvae Feriae | Antiquities | Sementīvae Feriae. A festival of seed-time, celebrated in honor of Tellus (q.v.). See Feriae. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | Top | ||
