The Regifugium, meaning "flight of the king," was observed on February 24 to commemorate the expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus, Rome's last monarch, in 509 BCE. The Rex Sacrorum performed sacrifices then fled the Forum, ritually reenacting the king's departure. This ceremony concluded the year in the old Roman calendar and symbolized Rome's rejection of tyranny. In poetry, Regifugium represents republican ideals, the transition from monarchy to liberty, and the ritual preservation of historical memory, often invoked in political verse celebrating freedom from despotism.

Regifugium on February 24 commemorated the last king's expulsion and the Republic's founding, ritually reenacting this foundational moment annually. The festival's dramatic character, possibly including a ritual flight, demonstrates Roman practices of commemorating historical events through repeated ritual performance. Understanding Regifugium helps contextualize Roman republican ideology and its religious expression. The festival transforms political history into religious observance, making the Republic's founding a sacred rather than merely political event requiring annual commemoration.