The Best Roman Celebration Ever

Ancient Romans celebrated every year festivities just like we do today, and they celebrated big. They organized gladiatorial fights, the killing of exotic animals, and theatrical exhibitions. During the Parilia festival in April 21 (the tradition says that Romulus founded Rome on this day), A.D. 48, Claudius held the games for the 800^th anniversary of Rome which was believed to be founded in 748 B.C. The Parilia festival consisted in honouring the goddess Pales, the protectors of flocks and herds. The Vestal Virgins began the celebration by distributing the ashes of blood of animals used for sacrifice. The ritual was followed by cleaning and decorating the herds and stalls with simple foods. Then the celebrants continued the ritual by jumping over the bonfire three times to complete the purification culminating with an open-air feast. 

                                         1. The Parilia festival took place every 21 of April

Moreover, Claudius organized games, probably theatrical performances, chariot races, and gladiator fights. Philip the Arab, or Marcus Julius Philippus organized the same types of games in 248 A.C. to celebrate the 1,000^th anniversary of Rome. The main objective of the millennial celebration was to gain loyalty from his people, ensure his position, and be remembered forever. Apparently, this was the last great anniversary celebration of Rome, as the empire was coming into an end. The emperor spared no expense in decorating the streets with flowers of the season, repaving the avenues. Every Roman citizen was welcomed and came to the city with their best clothes. The streets were full of priests sacrificing hundreds of steer and heifers to ensure the success of the Roman Empire. The event culminated with youths and virgins singing hymns for the virtue, the felicity and the empire of the Roman people. The next day, the games took place in different spots of the city such as the colosseum and the Circus Maximus. It seemed that everybody was having fun; however, there were prophets, oracles, soothsayers, numerologists, and astrologers who said that the end of the empire was about to come to an end. Many compare today the ancient Roman millennial event with the New Year’s Eve of 1999. 

                                         2. Probably, a Renaissance painting depicting a 

                                             celebration in ancient Rome

Works Cited:

Encyclopædia Britannica. “Parilia: Ancient Roman Festival.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/Parilia

  

Perrottet, Tony. “Tonight We’re Gonna Party Like It’s 248 A.D.The gatecrasher's paradise that was     the world's first millennial celebration.” The Smart Set. Accessed June 4, 2009. http://thesmartset.com/article04060901/

Von Mehren, Jane. “The Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire.” National Geographic. Edited by Straight, Susan. 2014. 97

Images:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parilia#/media/File:Suv%C3%A9e_Festa_di_Pales.jpg

2. http://cdn.ancienthistorylists.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/animal-sacrifice-in-ancient-rome.jpg