Lupercalia was an ancient pagan festival celebrated in Rome on February 15th. It was a time to honor the god Lupercus, the Roman god of fertility and shepherds. The festival had both religious and fertility rituals associated with it. The festival began with a sacrificial ceremony at the Lupercal, a 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 sacrifice involved the slaughtering of a goat and a dog, and their blood was used to smear the foreheads of two young patrician boys. After the sacrifices, the priests, known as Luperci, would cut strips of the goat's hide into pieces, known as februa, and run through the streets of Rome, striking anyone they encountered, particularly women, with the februa.
Lupercalia
Lupercalia was an ancient pagan festival held each year in Rome on February 15. Although Valentine’s Day shares its name with a martyred Christian saint, some historians believe the holiday is actually an offshoot of Lupercalia. Unlike Valentine’s Day, however, Lupercalia was a bloody, violent and sexually charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking and coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits and infertility.
After the sacrifices, the priests, known as Luperci, would cut strips of the goat's hide into pieces, known as februa, and run through the streets of Rome, striking anyone they encountered, particularly women, with the februa. It was believed that this would cleanse and purify the people and ward off evil spirits. Women would sometimes expose their hands or legs to be struck by the Luperci as it was believed to increase fertility.
Lupercalia and the Legend of Romulus and Remus
No one knows the exact origin of Lupercalia, but it has been traced back as far as the 6th century B.C.
According to Roman legend, the ancient King Amulius ordered Romulus and Remus—his twin nephews and founders of Rome—to be thrown into the Tiber River to drown in retribution for their mother’s broken vow of celibacy.
A servant took pity on them, however, and placed them inside a basket on the river instead. The river-god carried the basket and the brothers downriver to a wild fig tree where it became caught in the branches. The brothers were then rescued and cared for by a she-wolf in a den at the base of Palatine Hill where Rome was founded.
The twins were later adopted by a shepherd and his wife and learned their father’s trade. After killing the uncle who’d ordered their death, they found the cave den of the she-wolf who’d nurtured them and named it Lupercal.
It’s thought Lupercalia took place to honor the she-wolf and please the Roman fertility god Lupercus.
Another important aspect of Lupercalia was the matchmaking and courtship rituals. During the festival, young men would draw names of young women from a box. The pairings would act as pseudo-couples for the duration of the festival, and often led to long-term relationships or even marriage. Lupercalia was often seen as a rowdy and raucous festival, with revelers indulging in feasting, drinking, and sexual activities. It was a time of celebration and fertility, and many Romans embraced the festivities with enthusiasm. With the rise of Christianity and the efforts to convert pagans, Lupercalia was gradually phased out by the 5th century. In its place, Pope Gelasius I established St. Valentine's Day as a Christian holiday to honor Saint Valentine, a martyr who was associated with love and courtship. Today, Lupercalia is largely forgotten, with St. Valentine's Day taking its place as a celebration of love and romance. However, the ancient pagan festival still holds a certain fascination, as a relic of ancient Roman culture and the origins of Valentine's Day..
Reviews for "From Feasting to Flagellation: Unearthing the Rituals of Lupercalia"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I did not enjoy "Lupercalia pagan" at all. The author seemed to make wild claims and provide no evidence or sources to back them up. It felt like I was reading a poorly researched conspiracy theory rather than a well-informed piece of writing. The lack of structure and coherence made it difficult to follow the author's line of thought, and I often found myself lost and confused. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I found "Lupercalia pagan" to be extremely problematic. The author made sweeping generalizations about pagan practices and beliefs without considering the vast diversity within the pagan community. It seemed like the author had a biased view and was trying to push their own agenda rather than providing an objective analysis. The lack of respect for different belief systems was evident throughout the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially those interested in learning more about paganism.
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - As someone who is interested in paganism, I was excited to read "Lupercalia pagan," but it quickly became clear that the author did not have a deep understanding of the subject matter. The book was filled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations of pagan beliefs and practices. I was hoping for a more nuanced and well-researched exploration of the topic, but instead, I found myself questioning the credibility of the author. I would not recommend this book to others who are looking for an accurate depiction of paganism.
4. Emily - 3/5 stars - While "Lupercalia pagan" had some interesting points, I found it to be too biased and one-sided. The author continuously portrayed paganism in a negative light, often cherry-picking examples that reinforced their negative view. I was hoping for a more balanced perspective that would explore both the positive and negative aspects of paganism. Additionally, the writing style was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the author's argument. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would steer clear of it if you're looking for an objective examination of paganism.