The Lupercalia was an ancient pagan holiday celebrated in Rome from February 13th to 15th. It was a fertility festival dedicated to Lupercus, the Roman god of shepherds. This holiday had deep roots in ancient Roman society, with origins that can be traced back to pre-Roman times. During the festival, priests, known as the Luperci, gathered in the Lupercal, a cave believed to be the place where Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, were cared for by a she-wolf. The priests would sacrifice a goat and a dog, and then use the goat's hide to create thongs or strips called "februa." The Luperci, dressed only in loincloths made from goat hides, would then run through the streets of Rome, striking any women they encountered with the februa.
" The Luperci, dressed only in loincloths made from goat hides, would then run through the streets of Rome, striking any women they encountered with the februa. It was believed that being touched by these strips would ensure fertility and ease childbirth. Women would often present themselves willingly, as they believed it brought good fortune and increased their chances of conception.
All About Lupercalia || The Pagan Origins of Valentine's Day
Lupercalia is an old Pagan festival coming from Ancient Rome. It takes place on February 15th and it began as a way to honor the founding of Rome. The root of the word Lupercalia means “wolf” so this festival celebrated the twin founders Romulus & Remus, who were cared for by a she-wolf as children.
On Lupercalia two groups of priests would meet in the Luperical Cave within the Palantine Hill. One group of priests were descended from the followers of Romulus and the other group were descended from the followers of Remus. Like most pagan festivals, Lupercalia began with a big feast and lots of wine. After the feasting the priests would sacrifice some goats & one dog to the Gods.
It was very rare among the Romans to sacrifice a dog so Lupercalia was most likely the only time during the year when this happened. Since this festival celebrated the she-wolf that saved Romulus & Remus, the dog was a symbolic stand-in for a wolf in this instance.
After the sacrifice two priests would come forward and the sacrificial blood would be placed on the forehead and then washed off with goats milk. This symbolically washed away the feud & violence between the founding brothers of Rome.
Afterward, all the priests would leave the cave and take the hides of the sacrificed goats to create whips out of the pieces of hide. They stripped naked and ran up and down the city streets lightly whipping the people as they ran. The whips weren’t designed to hurt anyone; this was meant to be a playful and humorous act. In fact, people wanted to get hit as it was believed that being hit with the goat whip would bring good luck and make you more fertile.
Over the years Lupercalia increased in popularity among the Roman people and transformed into a festival that primarily celebrated fertility & childbirth. This festival was so loved that it even survived after the Western Roman Empire fell. Unfortunately, in the 5th Century Pope Gelasius banned the festival due to its nudity and drunkenness and then replaced it with a much more sober occasion called the the Festival of the Purification of the Virgin Mary.
Even though Lupercalia stopped being widely celebrated after the 5th century I do think it’s telling that we celebrate our own modern fertility festival, Valentine's Day, at about the same time as Lupercalia.
Will you be celebrating Lupercalia this year? Share your thoughts below in the comments.
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.
The festival was not only associated with fertility but also with purification and protection from evil spirits. The word "februa" itself is thought to derive from the Latin word "februare," meaning "to purify." The striking of the women with the februa was believed to cleanse them of any impurities and protect them from evil. Lupercalia was a vibrant and lively holiday, filled with laughter, music, and joviality. It was a time when the strict social norms of ancient Rome were relaxed, and people engaged in merrymaking and revelry. Men and women would often engage in games, dances, and festivities, fostering a sense of community and togetherness. Over time, as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the Lupercalia festival began to lose popularity. The Catholic Church sought to replace pagan holidays with Christian ones, and thus, Lupercalia was eventually replaced by St. Valentine's Day - a day associated with love and romance. However, remnants of Lupercalia can still be seen in some of the customs and traditions associated with Valentine's Day. The act of giving flowers, expressing love, and promoting fertility can be traced back to the ancient pagan festival. In conclusion, the Lupercalia was an ancient pagan holiday that celebrated fertility, purification, and protection. The festival was associated with cleansing rituals and the striking of women with strips made from goat hide. While it has been largely replaced by St. Valentine's Day, its influence can still be felt in some of the customs and traditions associated with modern-day Valentine's celebrations..
Reviews for "Lupercalia and the ancient rituals of purification"
1. John - 1 star
I found "Pagan holiday lupercaliaa" to be highly uninteresting and uninformative. The content seemed like a mishmash of random facts that lacked any coherent structure or direction. The writing style was also quite off-putting, as it felt disjointed and overly casual. Overall, I was deeply disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone seeking a comprehensive exploration of Lupercalia.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
While I appreciate the effort put into researching and presenting information about Lupercalia, "Pagan holiday lupercaliaa" failed to engage me. The author seemed more interested in personal anecdotes and speculative theories than offering a well-documented and objective analysis of the holiday. Additionally, the excessive use of colloquial language made it difficult for me to take the content seriously. I would have preferred a more academic approach and a deeper exploration of the historical context.
3. Emily - 3 stars
Although "Pagan holiday lupercaliaa" touched upon interesting aspects of Lupercalia, I felt that it lacked depth. The information provided was basic and generally well-known, without offering any new insights or perspectives. The writing style was far too casual for my taste, often veering into unnecessary tangents. While it may be an enjoyable read for those seeking a light introduction to Lupercalia, I was left wanting more substantial content and analysis.
4. David - 2 stars
I was disappointed with "Pagan holiday lupercaliaa" as it lacked proper organization and coherence. The author jumped from one topic to another without any clear transitions, which made it difficult to follow the narrative flow. Furthermore, the book only superficially touched upon Lupercalia's origins and rituals without delving deep into the cultural significance. I found it to be a missed opportunity to explore this pagan holiday in a more comprehensive and meaningful manner.
5. Alex - 1 star
"Pagan holiday lupercaliaa" was a complete waste of time for me. The book failed to provide any substantial or accurate information about Lupercalia. The author's casual tone and lack of proper sources made it seem more like a poorly researched blog post than a serious exploration of the subject. I would strongly advise potential readers to look elsewhere for a more reliable and informative source on Lupercalia.