Roman calendar

The calendar used by Romans. Years are counted ab urbe condita (AUC), that is "from the founding of the city".

Special days in the calendar

These are the rules which are pronounced by the pontifices, and breaking them is nefas (though it can sometimes be expiated).

Dies fasti [F]:

• ordinary citizens may do anything;
• magistrates may do anything except hold a meeting of the comitia tributa, concilium plebis, or comitia centuriata.

Dies comitiales [C]:

• ordinary citizens may do anything;
• magistrates may do anything except exercise certain specific judicial functions.

Dies nefasti [N]:

• ordinary citizens may do anything;
• magistrates may do anything except hold a meeting of the comitia tributa, concilium plebis, or comitia centuriata, or exercise certain specific judicial functions.

Dies nefasti pvblici [NP]:

• ordinary citizens may not commit acts of physical violence, or begin lawsuits, and should try to avoid quarrels (but robust and lively debate was acceptable);
• slaves are allowed the day off work;
• magistrates may do anything except hold a meeting of the comitia tributa, concilium plebis, or comitia centuriata, or exercise certain specific judicial functions;
• ordinary citizens may not do any physical labour except what is urgently necessary and can't be postponed;
• the flamines and the rex sacrorvm may not see anyone doing any physical labour, and may fine anyone they see doing physical labour.

Dies endotercisi [EN]:

• same as dies nefasti in the morning;
• same as dies fasti in the afternoon;
• same as dies nefasti in the evening.

Dies quando rex comitiavit fas [QRCF]:

• same as dies nefasti until the rex sacrorvm appears in the comitia;
• same as dies fasti after that.

Dies quando stercus delatum fas [QSDF]:

• same as dies nefasti until the temple of Vesta has been cleaned;
• same as dies fasti after that.

Dies atri and dies religiosi

Dies atri and dies religiosi are less formal but widely observed.

Dies atri: unlucky days;

• no religious rites may be performed, either public or private;
• try to avoid making journeys, starting new projects, or doing anything risky;
• certain gods, including Iuppiter and Ianus, may not be named.

Dies religiosi:

• like dies atri, but less bad:
• no private religious rites may be performed, but public rites may;
• try to avoid making journeys, starting new projects, or doing anything risky.

Nvndinae and nundinal letters

Nvndinae were originally market-days, held every eighth day, on which Romans came into the city to trade and do business. On Roman calendars the days were given nundinal letters (A to H) to help people see when the next market-day would be. The markets were held on a different day each year.