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!
It is the Ides of March. It is the B nundial day, the 3d day before Nundinae – the market day of this year.
On this day Romans worship: Iuppiter is the God of the sky, governing all that dwells within. The ancient name of Iuppiter was Diespiter, whose root is Dios (= Zeus, God) + Pater (= Father). As Iuppiter Optimus Maximus, he is the tutelary God of Rome. As a warrior, he is Iuppiter Stator, protector of the City and State who exhorts soldiers to be steadfast in battle. But Iuppiter has many aspects, attributes, names and epithets. Anna Perenna is a Deity of the circle or “ring” of the year, as indicated by the name (per annum). Anna Perenna’s festival fall on the Ides of March (March 15), which would have marked the first full moon in the year in the old lunar Roman calendar when March was reckoned as the first month of the year, and was held at the Goddess’ grove at the first milestone on the Via Flaminia. It was much frequented by the city plebs. Macrobius records that offerings were made to Her ut annare perannareque commode liceat, i.e., “that the circle of the year may be completed happily” and that people sacrificed to Her both publicly and privately. Johannes Lydus says that public sacrifice and prayers were offered to Her to secure a healthy year.
