Today it is Dies Nefastus Publicus – the day reserved for religious holidays. They are almost like Dies NEFASTI, but administrative activities must not be performed during them. It is not recommended to perform any kind of physical labor. So, if you want to hang out with your fellow-Romans – don’t talk about serious matters – just gather together and praise a God or a Goddess to whom this specific day is dedicated. Oh! And don’t forget to give your slaves a day-off!
Today is the 16th day before the Kalends of April. It is the D nundial day, Nundonae – the market day this year.
Festival called Agonia or Agonium Martiale, in honor of Mars, is celebrated March 17, the same day as the Liberalia, during a prolonged “war festival” that marked the beginning of the season for military campaigning and agriculture. The Agonia to Mars occurs during a period of festivals in March (Latin Martius), the namesake month of Mars. These were the chariot races of the Equirria February 27, a feria on the Kalends of March (a day sacred also to His mother Iuno), a second Equirria on March 14, His Agonalia March 17, and the Tubilustrium March 23. A note on the holiday from Varro indicates that this Agonia was of more recondite significance than the Liberalia held on the same day. Varro’s source is the books of the Salian priests surnamed Agonenses, who call it the Agonia instead.According to Masurius Sabinus, the Liberalia was called the Agonium Martiale by the pontiffs. Modern scholars are inclined to think that the sharing of the date was a coincidence, and that the two festivals were unrelated.
