Lupercalia and Valentine's Day

Belated Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Lupercalia today! Lupercalia is the equivalent of Valentine's Day in Classical times. Celebrated on February 15 during the ancient Roman days, as far back as the 6th century BC, the feast of Lupercalia marked the arrival of spring. The celebrations entailed fertility celebrations and coupling with the traditional animal sacrifices and feasting.

Mosaic depicting Lupercalia ritual of hitting woman with goat skin for fertility

The celebration involved a sacrificial goat whose hide was cut into strips (called thongs!) which were then taken by the luperci (priests) around town whipping women (naked no less) with them. The symbolic beating was thought to enhance fertility in women. Because it focused on couples, Lupercalia is thought to have served as the inspiration for the modern Valentine's Day.

Valentines' Day became an official celebration when Pope Gelasius I of Rome, in A.D. 496, banned Lupercalia as a pagan ritual and declared February 14 instead as a day to honor the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine. Valentine was a Catholic priest who was executed by the Roman Emperor Claudius II for assisting persecuted Christians and secretly marrying Christian couples in love. He was later named a saint and became the patron saint of love and friendship. Thankfully, the animal sacrifice and bizarre rituals of Lupercalia came to be replaced with the exchanging of cards and flowers. Hope y'all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!💟

Sources:

https://time.com/5527259/valentines-day-lupercalia/
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/lupercalia#lupercalia-and-the-legend-of-romulus-and-remus

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