Valentine's day wasn't always red hearts and chocolates, it had a very real devoted start as a Romen day of celebration, Lupercalia. "Lupus" is a Latin word which means "wolf". Which is a very fitting name given the festival was closely associated with a (she-wolf) "Lupa", whom according to Roman Mythology was the one who nurtured Romulus and Remus (the founders of Rome) after being abandoned on the Tiber River. (But we'll tell that story another time). Some historians do think/argue that the name Lupercalia may also be linked to the Greek festival of Arcadian Lykaia, which also involved wolf rituals. But given that Roman worship is often bridged from Greek Gods and Goddess stories and Beliefs, this potential connection should not be shocking to anyone.
So, what is Lupercalia exactly? Well brace yourself. Lupercalia, like all thing in ancient Rome, was wild, passionate, bloody, and festive to say the least. Held once a year on February 15th, this festival was claimed in worship and honor of not only Romulus and Remus, but also the Roman God of Agriculture, Forests, and Fertility, Faunus. With this festival being not only a celebration for fertility, but the coming of Spring, what a better God to petition for favor and assistance than Faunus, (who is very similar to the Greek God Pan). Fertility was seen as a force of nature and a will of the Gods not only in humans, but in the soil and animals a like, pleasing the Gods was of the up most importance if your Spring was to be a bountiful one. Pleasing the Gods was done by a series of offerings, rituals/events, and feast. (Here's a quick look at a typical Lupercalia Lineup)
Lupercalia Festival Happenings:
Rituals:
The festival began with the Luperci, a group of priests, sacrificing a goat and a dog. The goat represented fertility, while the dog symbolized purification.
After the sacrifice, the priests would touch the foreheads of two young men with the bloody knife, then wipe it off with wool soaked in milk.
Following the sacrificial rituals, there was a grand feast. The priests would then cut strips (called thongs or februa) from the goat hide and dip them in the sacrificial blood. They would take these strips to the Lupercal cave, believed to be where Romulus and Remus were suckled by the she-wolf.
The Race:
The Luperci (a group of priests), would run through the streets of Rome, striking women with the blood-soaked thongs (Strips cut from goat hide dipped in blood). This wasn't as violent as it sounds; being struck by the thongs was believed to make women fertile and aid in an easy childbirth. Women would often voluntarily stand in the way to ensure they were touched.
The Feast:
The feast was a lively and significant event held at Lupercal Cave on Palatine Hill, which was hailed as a severely sacred site, as this was believed to be the spot where the (she-wolf) nursed Romulus and Remus. The sacrifices were meant to honor the Gods and ensure fertility, purification, and renewal within households and the community as a whole, and as a thank you for their many blessings. Participants would enjoy the food and drink, symbolizing the abundance and fertility that the festival sought to promote.
The Christianization of The Roman Empire
By the end of the 5th Century, Roman Pope Gelasius 1, who reigned from 492 to 496 AD, aimed to align Rome and its patrons with the more modest and spiritual celebration that he believed to be closer to Christian teachings than the Pagan holiday of Lupercalia. He accomplished this by disbanding the often wild and violent rituals of Lupercalia, as claiming them incompatible with moral Christian Values, and redeclared February the 14th as the Feast of Saint Valentine into observance.
Saint Valentine:
There have been several names that have become martyrs for Valentine's Day that are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but the most common one is Saint Valentine of Rome. He was a priest who lived in the 3rd century, who was imprisoned and later executed. According to legend, he performed many secret marriages for young couples, defying the orders of Emperor Claudius II, who believed that single men made better soldiers. The feast was intended to honor Saint Valentine and promote the values of love and faithfulness.
Modern Developments
It wasn't truly until the Middle Ages that romance and love took hold of Valentine's Day, particularly in England and France. This development can be widely accredited to a Mr. Geoffrey Chaucer, through poetic works such as "Parlement of Foules", where the connection of this day to the tradition of courtship and love was made culturally.
Valentine's Cards- The oldest known valentine card dates back to 1415, sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. The exchange of handwritten notes and love letters didn't become popular until the18th century.
Cupid- Resurfacing in the Victorian Era, 19th Century, Cupid, the Roman god of love, became a central figure in Valentine's Day imagery. Often depicted as cherubic winged figure with a bow and arrow, known for his mythological stories of causing people to fall deeply and passionately in love, Cupid's popularity quickly rose with symbolization of the power to strike love into a heart when you least expect it.
Gifts- The tradition of giving gifts such as flowers, chocolates, and jewelry emerged in the 19th century, with the commercialization of the holiday.
Now that you know the history of Valentine's Day, will you be able to look at it the same way again?