FERIE, in Roman antiquity, holidays, or days upon which they abstained from work. Proclamation was generally made by the herald, by command of the Rex Sacrorum, or Flamines, that all should abstain from business; and whoever transgressed the order was severely fined.—The ferie were of two kinds, public and private.
The public Ferie were fourfold. 1. Stativa, which were kept as public feasts by the whole city upon certain immovable days appointed in their calendar;—such were the Compitalia, Carmentalia, Lupercalia, &c. 2. Feria Conceptiva, which were moveable feasts, the days for the celebration of which were fixed by the magistrates or priests; of this sort were the Feria Latina, Paganalia, Compitalia, &c. which happened every year, but the days for keeping them were left to the discretion of the magistrates or priests. 3. Feria Injunctiva, which were fixed and instituted by the mere command of consuls, pretors, dictators, upon the gaining of some victory or other fortunate event. 4. Nundina. See the articles NUNDINÆ, AGONALIA, CARMENTALIA, &c.
The private Ferie were holidays observed by particular persons or families on several accounts, as birth-days, funerals, &c. The ferie belonged to, and were one division of, the diei festi. See FESTI.