The Lupercalia was a pagan ceremony celebrated in ancient Rome on February 15th. It was a fertility festival dedicated to Lupercus, the Roman god of shepherds and fertility. The main idea of this ceremony was to cleanse and purify the city of Rome from evil spirits and ensure the fertility of the land and its people. During the Lupercalia, young men called Luperci would gather at the Lupercal cave on Palatine Hill, where legend says that Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were nursed by a she-wolf. The Luperci were priests of Lupercus and were distinguished by their goat-skin loincloths. These loincloths were made from the skins of the goats sacrificed during the ceremony.
“Ramen shops in Japan are really tiny, maybe 10 to 15 seats, and they only serve ramen,” Lieu said. “You put money in a vending machine, get a ticket, sit down, slurp the ramen in 10 minutes and then you’re out the door. We wanted to create that concept in a way here.”
Now Lee collaborates with the Webster team, specifically owner and chef Sam Gelman, who worked directly with David Chang of Momofuku for over a decade. They ll be opening the restaurant with long-time business partner Josh Hake, and the menu will include ramen and tacos, calling back to Myers previous experience cooking up gourmet Korean street tacos for Moar Tacos.
These loincloths were made from the skins of the goats sacrificed during the ceremony. The ceremony began with the Luperci sacrificing goats and a dog at the Lupercal cave. Then, the priests would strip the goatskins from the sacrificed animals and use them to fashion whips.
Singapore Noodle cooking class with politician
Today, I had an interesting cooking class. My student Robin Harper is a member of the Green Party and in turn a member of the Scottlsh Parliament (MSP) who is celebrating his 70th birthday (Happy Birthday, Robin. ). How cool is that?! I never thought that one day I would have a chance to teach a British politician. I can’t believe a politician who has shook hands with the queen and has met the prime minister was in my kitchen this afternoon and listened to my directions for pouring in stock and adding soy sauce to the dish.
It felt great when I saw him wolfing down both the Singapore noodles and steamed scallops he cooked in my kitchen. From the way he was eating them it looked like he really enjoyed both and has kindly offered to endorse us.
When he arrived I didn’t quite catch his job title but his wife explained who he was but I didn’t quite catch on. (How daft I am! 😀 What can I say? I’m not very good with English politics.) I’m really happy that I didn’t know he is a real politician before we start cooking or I probably will be too nervous or panic. 😀
We cooked Singapore noodle and Steamed scallop today but I will only share this Singapore noodle recipe on my blog today with all of you. (Steamed scallop’s recipe will be on it’s way soon!!)
Singapore Noodle is another popular eastern dish in the UK and it has a rather strong flavour. The rice noodle has been marinated by turmeric powder and curry powder but you can choose a different kind of curry powder to marinade the rice noodle to your own personal preference.
The other interesting thing about this dish is this dish is actually not from Singapore. I have no idea where this dish originates from but it appears on many Chinese restaurants and take away menus. I kind of think Chinese people named this dish as “Singapore” noodle is because of the kind of spices used to marinade the noodles.
Credits: Photos were taken by Chris at Chris Radley Photography
The pair share a love and deep appreciation for Asian cuisine, and they always seek it out when traveling. Camp began experimenting with ramen at home, off the clock. They realized Asheville’s thriving food scene lacked a ramen shop and decided to host pop-ups to share Camp’s creations, ultimately leading to a restaurant.
**These whips**, called februa, were then used by the young men in a playful, yet ritualistic, manner. They would run through the streets of Rome, striking men and women with the februa. It was believed that being touched by the februa would bring fertility and protect against evil spirits. Another part of the Lupercalia ceremony involved a matchmaking lottery. Young women would put their names in a box, and eligible bachelors would draw a name. The couple would be paired for the duration of the festival and sometimes even longer if a connection was made. This practice was meant to ensure fertility and encourage marriage. The Lupercalia was a raucous and lively celebration, **filled with** music, dancing, and feasting. It was seen as a time of purification and renewal, as well as a celebration of the arrival of spring and the fertility it brought. Despite its pagan roots, the Lupercalia continued to be celebrated even after the rise of Christianity, although it underwent significant changes and was eventually replaced by the Christian holiday of Valentine's Day. In summary, the Lupercalia was a pagan ceremony in ancient Rome dedicated to Lupercus, the god of shepherds and fertility. It involved the sacrifice of goats, the creation of whips from their skins, and the playful whipping of men and women with these whips. The ceremony also included a matchmaking lottery to encourage marriage and fertility. The Lupercalia was a boisterous celebration that continued to be observed even after the rise of Christianity, although it eventually evolved into the holiday known as Valentine's Day..
Reviews for "Lupercalia: A Bridge between Ancient Paganism and Modern Celebrations"
1. Jane - 2/5 - I recently attended a pagan ceremony of lupercalia and I must say I was highly disappointed. The entire event felt disorganized and lacking in any meaningful structure. Despite being advertised as a significant and ancient ritual, it felt more like a glorified costume party. There was no clear explanation or understanding of the purpose behind the various rituals performed, leaving me feeling disconnected and confused. Overall, I found the experience underwhelming and would not recommend it to others seeking a truly immersive and informative pagan ceremony.
2. Mark - 1/5 - I regret attending the pagan ceremony of lupercalia. It was nothing more than a gathering of people dressed in eccentric costumes, engaging in meaningless activities. There was no depth or spirituality to the event, and it felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on the trendy fascination with paganism. The organizers seemed more interested in the aesthetics and theatrics rather than promoting a genuine understanding of the ancient traditions. I left feeling unsatisfied and disenchanted with the whole experience and would caution others to steer clear.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - The pagan ceremony of lupercalia was not what I had expected in the slightest. It lacked authenticity and felt like a caricature of what a true pagan ritual should be. The participants treated it more as a lighthearted performance rather than a sacred event. The event could have benefited from a more knowledgeable and respected leader who could guide the attendees through the rituals with reverence and understanding. Overall, it was a disappointing and superficial experience that failed to capture the essence of mysticism and spirituality I was hoping for.
4. David - 2/5 - Attending the pagan ceremony of lupercalia left me feeling perplexed and unsatisfied. The rituals seemed haphazardly put together, lacking any clear purpose or meaning. The participants appeared to be going through the motions without a genuine connection to the ancient traditions they were attempting to recreate. The whole event felt like a mockery of paganism, rather than a respectful homage to the customs of old. I left with a sense of disappointment, feeling as though I had wasted my time and energy on a shallow and poorly executed gathering.