Lupercalia | Description, Meaning, Traditions, Date, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

What are the traditions of the Lupercalia? ›

During the Feast of the Lupercal, the sacrificial feast that followed, the Luperci priests cut februa (strips of goat hide) from the sacrificed animals. They ran from Palatine Hill to the Roman Forum, whipping people with strips of hide, which they thought would increase fertility and purify the body.

Lupercalia, also known as Lupercal, was a pastoral festival of Ancient Rome observed annually on February 15 to purify the city, promoting health and fertility. Lupercalia was also known as dies Februatus, after the purification instruments called februa, the basis for the month named Februarius. Lupercalia.

The festival began at Lupercal cave with the sacrifice of one or more male goats—a representation of sexuality—and a dog. The sacrifices were performed by Luperci, a group of Roman priests. Afterwards, the foreheads of two naked Luperci were smeared with the animals' blood using the bloody, sacrificial knife.

noun. Lu·​per·​ca·​lia ˌlü-pər-ˈkā-lē-ə -ˈkāl-yə : an ancient Roman festival celebrated February 15 to ensure fertility for the people, fields, and flocks.

At the Lupercal cave, a dog and one or more male goats, to represent sexuality were sacrificed by the Luperci, a group of priests. Two of them, at this point naked, would be smeared by the blood from the sacrificial knife.

Supposedly, Lupercalia was a festival created to honor the she-wolf and please the Roman fertility god Lupercus. According to History.com, Lupercalia began with the ritual sacrifice of one or more male goats and a dog in the Lupercal cave on the Palatine Hill.

Lupercalia was no longer widely celebrated by the fifth century; it was abolished in the fifth century. However, there is another pagan holiday that is still celebrated with more similarities to Valentine's Day: Imbolc. Imbolc, usually observed on February 1 or 2, is the second pagan sabbath in the Wheel of the Year.

Around the same time of year as Valentine's Day, on February 13-15, the Romans would celebrate the Feast of Lupercalia. The Feast of Lupercalia celebrated fertility rather than romantic love. The celebration of this feast was somewhat gruesome.

Our main sources on how the Lupercalia began are Ovid, Plutarch, Livy, Valerius Maximus and Dionysus of Halicarnassus. We have others such as Cicero and Varro also chipping in. All of these writers date to either the 1^st century BC or later – straight away there's an important point to be made.

During Lupercalia those wacky Romans, drunk and naked, would swarm the streets striking women with whips of goat skin to ensure their fertility. Following these bizarre parades they would party like Plutarch while eating roasted goat entrails.

What does the Bible say about Valentine's day? ›

1 John 4:7-12. Dear friends: let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

However, many historians believe the day originated from the Roman pagan festival of fertility called Lupercalia, an event filled with animal sacrifice, random coupling and the whipping of women; not quite the romantic chocolate and roses day that we celebrate today.

Each Lupercalia began with the sacrifice by the Luperci of goats and a dog, after which two of the Luperci were led to the altar, their foreheads were touched with a bloody knife, and the blood was wiped off with wool dipped in milk; the ritual required that the two young men laugh.

Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival was deeply rooted in the strange pastoral traditions of early Rome. Dedicated to Lupercus, the god of shepherds, it was aimed at promoting fertility and warding off evil spirits.

Answer and Explanation: In Julius Caesar, the Feast of Lupercal is a Roman celebration of the Lupercus (also known as Pan). The Feast celebrated fertility and included a ritual foot race. This was particularly important to Caesar because his wife Calpurnia was unable to have children.

Each Lupercalia began with the sacrifice by the Luperci of goats and a dog, after which two of the Luperci were led to the altar, their foreheads were touched with a bloody knife, and the blood was wiped off with wool dipped in milk; the ritual required that the two young men laugh.

In fact, Shakespeare refers to “Saint Valentine” in “A Midsummer Night's Dream” when Theseus confronts the four lovers in the woods after their trysts that night. Some scholars have suggested that Valentine's Day has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia.

In Julius Caesar, the Feast of Lupercal is a Roman celebration of the Lupercus (also known as Pan). The Feast celebrated fertility and included a ritual foot race. This was particularly important to Caesar because his wife Calpurnia was unable to have children.