Festivals and celebrationsEurope
Equirria
Two ancient Roman festivals of horse and chariot racing held in honor of Mars.
The Equirria were two ancient Roman festivals featuring chariot or horseback races. They were held in the Campus Martius to honor the god Mars on 27 February and 14 March. These events framed the ritual turn of the year and served as military lustrations for the army.
When is Equirria kept?
Equirria is kept on 27 February and 14 March.
The Equirria were ancient Roman festivals dedicated to the god Mars. They featured chariot or horseback races held in the Campus Martius. The events took place on 27 February and 14 March. These races served as military preparations and marked the turning of the year.
Calendar placement
The festivals appeared on the oldest stone calendars. The year originally began in March, making the late February race the final event for Mars before the new year. The March race occurred the day before the Ides. This timing coincided with the feast of Anna Perenna. The March date is unique because it falls on an even number. Scholars debate why this displacement happened. Some suggest a conflict with other religious events. Others believe it was placed at a convenient time between the Nones and the Ides.
Race locations
Events occurred outside the sacred boundary of Rome. The main site was the Campus Martius. The exact course remains debated. It may have been near the Altar of Mars. Another possibility is the Tarentum, which later hosted the Saecular Games. The Trigarium is also mentioned. If the Tiber River flooded, the races moved to the Campus Martialis on the Caelian Hill. This alternative field had no permanent structures.
Religious meaning
Romulus, said to be the son of Mars, founded these festivals. They functioned as lustrations for the army. The races purified the horses for military service. Mars was viewed as a war deity during this season. The October Horse festival closed the campaigning season. The Equirria prepared the forces for upcoming campaigns. Evidence suggests they preserved religious tradition rather than drawing large crowds. The archaic nature of the rites links them to underworld deities.
Questions people ask about Equirria
When is Equirria kept?
Equirria is kept on 27 February and 14 March.
What are the Equirria?
They were two ancient Roman festivals featuring chariot or horseback races. They honored the god Mars and took place in the Campus Martius.
Why were they important?
They served as military lustrations for the army. The races purified the horses and prepared them for the upcoming campaigning season.
See also
ChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared meals
Valentine's DayA Christian feast day and cultural celebration of love kept on February 14 in many countries.
Christmas treeA decorated evergreen or artificial tree placed indoors to mark the Christmas season.
Father's DayA day to honour fathers and fatherhood, kept on many different dates worldwideGood reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Equirria", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.
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