The ancient Romans celebrated many holy days; probably more than is practical for we modern Pagans to attempt to emulate. They didn't have Saturdays and Sundays. Their feast days were their days off of work, when they could come together to share what their labor wrought and spend time with their neighbors.
A great deal of information about the feast days celebrated by the ancient Romans can be gotten from Ovid's Fasti
Adonia -Adonia was a movable festival that took place in ancient Athens (and possibly Rome) in what is now July or August, traditionally nine days after the 7th new moon of the year, or the 9th of the month of Hekatombion and lasting till the full moon. The fixed date of July 19th is used today by some traditions
Agonalia -The word Agonalia may derive from agonia meaning victim or agonium meaning festival.
Amburbium -Amburbium was a city wide ritual that took place during times of great distress. During this time everything in the city was cleansed and purified. There was a great procession three times around the city led by priests after which a hog, a ram and a bull were sacrificed. Some sources say that this ritual was traditionally performed in the middle of February.
anna perenna -Anna Perenna fell on the Ides of March (March 15) which would have been the first full moon of the year according to the old calendar. It honored the Goddess of the returning year.
Cerealia -Cerealia was a 7-day festival celebrated in ancient Rome in honor of the goddess Ceres. The exact dates of the April festival are uncertain: but it may have started started on the Ides of April. The festival involved women in white robes carrying torches in solidarity with the Goddess Ceres/Demeter's search for her lost daughter Proserphina/Persephone and was accompanied by the Ludi Ceriales or "Games of Ceres" in the Circus Maximus.
Compitalia -The Compitalia or Ludi Compitalicii was a festival celebrated once a year in honor of the Lares Compitales, household deities of the crossroads, to whom sacrifices were offered at the places where two or more ways meet. The word comes from the Latin compitum, a cross-way.
Equirria -Horse races were held on this day in honor of the God Mars on February 17th and March 14th.
Lupercalia -Lupercalia was an ancient Roman fertility festival celebrated on February 15 in honor of Faunus. Priests called Luperci walked through the streets with strips of goatskin with which they struck festival goers in order to purify them and ensure their fertility.
Matronalia -Matronalia was celebrated on March 1st in ancient Rome in honor of Juno Lucina with lambs and cattle.
Pax -The festival in honor of Pax, the Roman Goddess of Peace, was held on January 3rd. Images of Roman leaders may have been placed at her feet on this day.
Quinquatrus -Quinquatrus is an ancient Roman festival in honor of the Goddess Minerva that began on March 19th and continued for five days. The first, most important day, was the consecration of Minerva's temple and subsequent days consisted of gladiatorial contests, plays, orators, poets, and the consultation of fortune tellers by women.
Tubilustrium -Tubilustrium was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the God Mars that took place on March 23rd and marked the beginning of the campaign season. War trumpets and weapons were cleaned and Priests of Mars called Salii went dancing through the streets.
