a term used in the early Church for the days on which martyrdom was suffered by some of her number, as if they were birthdays; and just as the heathens used to have festivities on memorable days, so these early Christians used to celebrate annually such birthdays of martyrs into the kingdom of God. The graves of the departed were visited, and after a time festivities were allowed. See Hase, Ch. History, page 68. (See NATALITIA).