Societas Via Romana - Discussion Archives

Avete Romani,

because today is the first day of Easter Holidays over here in Belgium, I started to wonder what the Romans did when they had a day of. Nowadays, in the holidays, everybody goes to a foreign country. So my question is:

What did the Romans do when they had a day off Did they go to the theater, Collosseum or stayed home? And are there any sources left of Romans going to other countries, just to relax?

Valete,

Tiberius Dionysis Draco

Salve Tiberi

Holidays were religious festivals. Romans would go to theaters, the circuses, gladiator contests on those occasions since such events were offered as part of the religious ceremonies.

Wealthy Romans did travel to distant places, Philae, Egypt became one such attraction. Bath, England, became another hot spot, as a spa visited for its waters. So in answer to your question, the Romans, the very wealthy at least, did travel for leisure and pleasure. There were others who may have been less wealthy but travelled as well, on religious pilgramages, for education, and as a normal part of their careers.

So Easter holidays? What is that? Like Spring break travelling to southern beaches perhaps?

Vale
Piscinus

Ave Piscine,

Easter Holidays are two weeks vacation before Easter itself.

Vale bene,

Tiberius Dionysius Draco