Lupercalia is an ancient pagan festival that was celebrated by the Romans from February 13 to 15. It was dedicated to the Roman god Lupercus, the god of shepherds and fertility. The festival was observed to purify and ensure the fertility of the land, the women, and the livestock. During Lupercalia, two groups called the Luperci would gather at the Lupercal cave on the Palatine Hill, where it was believed that Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, were nursed by a she-wolf. The Luperci were young men who were initiated into the priesthood of Lupercus. They would sacrifice goats and a dog at the cave and then feast on their meat.
The American Heritage Dictionary, under "Lupercalia," reads, "a fertility festival in ancient Rome, celebrated February 15 in honor of the pastoral god Lupercus." Even the month of February gets its name from this pagan ceremony. The Latin februaue means "to purify" after this so-called "Feast of Purification." Some sources say that the thongs from the skins of sacrificed animals—which the priests used on the evening of February 14 to whip women—were called februa .
The American Heritage Dictionary, under Lupercalia, reads, a fertility festival in ancient Rome, celebrated February 15 in honor of the pastoral god Lupercus. In any event, what happened next is that the Luperci, and perhaps other upper-class men, stripped naked, were oiled and went running through Rome, whipping women with their thongs.
They would sacrifice goats and a dog at the cave and then feast on their meat. After the sacrifice, the Luperci would cut the goat's hide into strips, called thongs, and then run through the streets, striking women with the thongs. It was believed that this act would purify the women and ensure their fertility.
The Roman Festival of Lupercalia
N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise.
Updated on January 14, 2020Lupercalia is one of the most ancient of the Roman holidays (one of the feriae listed on ancient calendars from even before the time Julius Caesar reformed the calendar). It is familiar to us today for two main reasons:
- It is associated with Valentine's Day.
- It is the setting for Caesar's refusal of the crown that was made immortal by Shakespeare, in his Julius Caesar. This is important in two ways: the association of Julius Caesar and the Lupercalia gives us some insight into the final months of Caesar's life as well as a look at the Roman holiday.
The name of the Lupercalia was talked about a lot in the wake of the 2007 discovery of the legendary Lupercal cave where, supposedly, the twins Romulus and Remus were suckled by a she-wolf.
The Lupercalia may be the longest-lasting of the Roman pagan festivals. Some modern Christian festivals, like Christmas and Easter, took on elements of earlier pagan religions, but they are not essentially Roman, pagan holidays. Lupercalia may have started at the time of the founding of Rome (traditionally 753 B.C.) or even before. It ended about 1200 years later, at the end of the 5th century A.D., at least in the West, although it continued in the East for another few centuries. There may be many reasons why Lupercalia lasted so long, but most important must have been its wide appeal.
Women would often present their hands or bared backs for the Luperci to strike, as they believed it would make them more fertile and protect them from evil spirits. Lupercalia was also a time for matchmaking and fertility rituals. Men would draw names of eligible women from a container, and they would become each other's sexual partners for the duration of the festival. This practice was considered a form of divination to predict their future marriages and fertility. Although Lupercalia was a pagan festival, it overlapped with the Christian observance of St. Valentine's Day on February 14. As Christianity spread and became the dominant religion in Rome, Lupercalia was gradually replaced by Valentine's Day. However, some elements of Lupercalia, such as the celebration of fertility and matchmaking, have been incorporated into the modern celebration of Valentine's Day. In conclusion, Lupercalia was an ancient pagan festival dedicated to the Roman god Lupercus. It involved sacrifices, purification rituals, and fertility customs, such as the striking of women with thongs and matchmaking. While Lupercalia has been overshadowed by Valentine's Day, its traditions still influence modern observances of love and fertility..
Reviews for "The Symbolism and Rituals of Lupercalia: A Pagan Perspective"
- Sarah - 1/5 stars - I attended the Pagan observance of Lupercalia and it was one of the most bizarre and uncomfortable experiences of my life. The whole event felt like a mix of pagan rituals, sexual innuendos, and just plain nonsense. I left feeling confused and honestly a bit creeped out. Definitely not something I would recommend to anyone.
- Mark - 2/5 stars - I heard a lot about the Pagan observance of Lupercalia and decided to check it out. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The entire event seemed disorganized and lacked any clear explanations or structure. It felt more like a group of people randomly doing strange things rather than a meaningful and purposeful celebration. I had hoped to learn more about the history and significance of the event, but instead, I left feeling perplexed and unfulfilled.
- Emily - 2/5 stars - As someone who enjoys learning about different cultures and traditions, I thought the Pagan observance of Lupercalia would be an interesting experience. However, I was disappointed by the lack of authenticity and depth in the event. It seemed more like a modern-day interpretation of pagan rituals rather than a true representation of ancient traditions. I felt like I was being sold a watered-down version of the event, which left me feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed.
- Michael - 1/5 stars - I attended the Pagan observance of Lupercalia with an open mind, but I was quickly overwhelmed by the weirdness of it all. The event was filled with strange chanting, the burning of unusual herbs, and people dressed in bizarre costumes. It felt more like a circus than a religious observance. I left feeling like I had wasted my time and money on an event that had no real substance or meaning. Overall, I would not recommend the Pagan observance of Lupercalia to anyone looking for a genuine and meaningful spiritual experience.