Editing Roman festivals (section)

===[[Februarius]]===
In the archaic Roman calendar, February was the last month of the year. The name derives from ''februa'', "the means of purification, expiatory offerings." It marked a turn of season, with February 5 the official first day of spring bringing the renewal of agricultural activities after winter.<ref>Scullard, ''Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic,'' pp. 70–71.</ref>
* 1 (Kalends): ''Dies natalis'' for the Temple of Juno Sospita, Mother and Queen; ''sacra'' at the Grove of [[List of Roman deities#A|Alernus]], near the [[Tiber River|Tiber]] at the foot of the [[Palatine Hill]]
* 5: ''Dies natalis'' for the [[Temple_of_Concord|Temple of Concord]] on the [[Capitoline Hill]]
* 13 (Ides): minor festival of [[Faunus]] on the [[Tiber Island]]
* 13–22: [[Parentalia]], a commemoration of ancestors and the dead among families
** 13: Parentatio, with appeasement of the [[Manes]] beginning at the 6th hour and ceremonies performed by the chief [[Vestal Virgin|Vestal]]; temples were closed, no fires burned on altars, marriages were forbidden, magistrates took off their insignia, until the 21st
* 15: [[Lupercalia]]
* 17: last day of the ''feriae conceptivae'' [[Fornacalia]], the Oven Festival; [[Quirinalia]], in honour of [[Quirinus]]
*21: [[Feralia]], the only public observation of the Parentalia, marked F ''(dies festus)'' in some calendars and FP (a designation of uncertain meaning) in others, with dark rites aimed at the gods below ''([[di inferi]])''
* 22: [[Caristia]] (or Cara Cognatio, "Dear Kindred"), a potluck meal provided by all the family, and shared in a spirit of love and forgiveness
* 23: [[Terminalia (festival)|Terminalia]], in honour of [[Terminus (mythology)|Terminus]]
* 24: [[Regifugium]]
*27: [[Equirria]], first of two horse-racing festivals to [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]