Thursday's Term to Learn - Postridie Nonas

Today is the Postridie Nonas Julias. That means it's the day after the Nones of July; in other words, July 8. Postridie comes from posterus + die.

Postridie Nonas looks a lot like Pridie Nonas, but Pridie Nonas is the day before the Nones. Postridie Nonas is less common. Usually, the day after the Nones is expressed in Latin as a certain number of days before the Ides, so you're more likely to see July 8 written

a.d. VIII Idus Julias

Note that in August, the Postridie Nonas is the 6th of August. In the Roman calendar, the Ides are on the 13th or 15th, depending on the month. This is relevant, because in the Roman calendar, the usual way of writing the date is by counting backwards from the fixed points, Kalends (the 1st day of the month), Nones, and Ides. In August, the Ides are the 13th, the Nones, the 5th; in July, the Ides are on the 15th, the Nones, the 7th.

• Roman Calendar Terminology

On this day in ancient Rome, following the Poplifugia ('flight of the people' -- from something not known with certainty), the people celebrated with the sacrifice of a heifer or vitula.

More Thursdays' Terms to Learn