The Lupercalia festival was an ancient pagan holiday celebrated in Rome. It was held on February 15th in honor of the Roman god Lupercus, the god of fertility and shepherds. The festival was a time of purification and fertility rituals. During Lupercalia, young men dressed in loincloths made from the skins of sacrificed goats. They would run through the streets of Rome, whipping women with the goat skins. It was believed that this act would bring fertility and protect against infertility and sterility.
During the 14th century, St. Valentine's Day became associated with romance and affection toward others. During the Middle Ages in France and England, Valentine's Day was associated with the beginning of the birds' mating season. English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, recorded Valentine's Day as romantic in his 1375 poem, "Parliament of Foules." Signs of affection were known during this time, but written valentines became popular later in the 1400's.
The women would also place their names in a big urn in the city to be chosen by one of the city s single men to be paired for the year which often ended in marriage. Valentine s Day, typically observed on February 14th, is celebrated in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia and Great Britain.
It was believed that this act would bring fertility and protect against infertility and sterility. The festival also included a ritual at the Lupercal, a cave on the Palatine Hill where it is said Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were nursed by a she-wolf. A goat and a dog were sacrificed, and the foreheads of young boys were anointed with their blood.
Lupercalia: Origins and Modern-Day Celebrations
It has long been speculated the Valentine’s Day emerged from Lupercalia. While there are no definitive links, there are some striking similarities between the two. Image via Adobe Stock In this article, I wanted to dig deeper into both. Despite Roman ancestry, I don’t officially celebrate either of these days. For one, blood sacrifices are generally frowned upon, and I’m typically quite fond of my dogs.
For Valentine’s Day, the commercialization never sat right with my desire to be free of societal pressures. I prefer to show and be shown love and appreciation through daily acts rather than on an assigned day. That said, these are my personal preferences which have no bearing on others. Instead, this article is to open the conversation and provide ideas. While this isn’t one of the official eight sabbats, many pagans do choose to celebrate this time of year, and I do tend to enjoy cause for celebration. As such, I will present some of the origins of these festivities and ways this practice can be brought to life in modern times.
These boys, known as Luperci, would then run through the streets, touching bystanders and crops with a goatskin dipped in milk. Lupercalia was a significant event in ancient Rome, and it continued to be celebrated well into the Christian era. Eventually, the holiday was replaced by Valentine's Day, which is still celebrated on February 14th. The Lupercalia festival was a pagan holiday rooted in fertility and purification rituals. While it may seem strange or barbaric by today's standards, it was an essential part of ancient Roman culture and beliefs. Today, it serves as a fascinating glimpse into the customs and traditions of the past..
Reviews for "Lupercalia: The Dark Side of an Ancient Pagan Holiday"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Pagan holiday Lupercalia. The event felt disorganized and lacking in any meaningful content. The organizers didn't provide clear instructions or engage the participants in any activities or rituals. Instead, it seemed like an excuse for people to indulge in excessive drinking and partying. I was hoping to learn more about the historical significance of Lupercalia, but the event failed to deliver on that front. Overall, it left me feeling like it was just another generic holiday party with no real substance.
2. Michael - 1 star - I attended the Pagan holiday Lupercalia and it was a complete waste of time. There was no educational aspect to the event, nor any attempt to connect with the cultural and historical significance of Lupercalia. It felt like the organizers were just capitalizing on the pagan trend without any understanding or respect for the traditions. Additionally, the event was poorly executed, with long wait times, overcrowding, and a lack of clear directions. I would not recommend this event to anyone genuinely interested in learning about or celebrating Lupercalia.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Pagan holiday Lupercalia, but it fell short of my expectations. The event lacked structure and purpose, leaving participants feeling confused and disconnected. The organizers didn't make any effort to create a meaningful experience, and it seemed like they were more focused on attracting a large crowd than providing quality content. The event felt like a missed opportunity to learn and engage with the pagan community, and I left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed. I hope future events pay more attention to the cultural and historical context of Lupercalia and provide a more enriching experience for attendees.
4. David - 1 star - The Pagan holiday Lupercalia was a complete letdown. It felt like a shallow attempt to cash in on the popularity of pagan culture without actually understanding or respecting the traditions associated with Lupercalia. The event was poorly organized, with no clear schedule or structure. It lacked any educational or engaging elements, leaving attendees feeling like they wasted their time. It's a shame that such an interesting and historically significant holiday was reduced to a superficial and poorly executed experience. I would not recommend this event to anyone looking for a genuine celebration of Lupercalia.