Lupercalia, Imbolc, and Valentine's Day: The Passionate Season of February - Interfaith America (2024)

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Lupercalia, Imbolc, and Valentine's Day: The Passionate Season of February - Interfaith America? ›

Some scholars have suggested that Valentine's Day has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. Celebrated on February 15, Lupercalia was a bloody and even brutal affair in which animals would be sacrificed in the Lupercal cave at the base of Palatine Hill in Rome.

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.

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.

Lupercalia was celebrated for centuries in the middle of February, eventually transforming into a Christian celebration honoring St. Valentine as the Roman Empire became less pagan.

Brazil does not celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14, as it falls too close to the weeklong Carnival celebration. However, June 12 is "Dia dos enamorados" ("Lovers' day"), where couples exchange gifts, cards, and candy.

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. It's thought Lupercalia took place to honor the she-wolf and please the Roman fertility god Lupercus.

It was one of the few pagan holidays still observed during the rise of Christianity. Convinced that the celebration of Lupercalia threatened the supremacy of the Church over religious life, Pope Gelasius I outlawed the festival during his pontificate between 492 and 496.

Common Practices

They do this by setting up an altar with the symbols of Brigid, like a corn husk doll, white flowers, a bowl of milk, and candles. Other pagans aim their rituals toward the cycles of the season. For example, some people do house cleaning rituals as a part of getting ready for spring.

The celebration of Imbolc originates from the Celts. Imbolc symbolizes the halfway point between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). The word "imbolc" means "in the belly of the Mother," because the seeds of spring are beginning to stir in the belly of Mother Earth.

The evolution of Valentine's Day

The Lupercalia rite continued for centuries, even after the ascension of Christianity in Rome. Pope Hilarius reportedly demanded Emperor Anthemius abolish it in 467 A.D and some 30 years later, Pope Gelasius tried to supplant it by declaring February 14 the Feast of Saint Valentine.

What is the dark truth about Valentine's day? ›

One Valentine was a priest in third-century Rome who defied Emperor Claudius II after the ruler outlawed marriage for young men. St. Valentine would perform marriages in secret for young lovers, ultimately leading to his death.

But in some other countries like Indonesia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the day is banned due to the day's conflicting views with the Islamic culture.

Esther Howland, Mount Holyoke class of 1847, is known as the “mother of the American valentine.” At a time when most women didn't have the opportunity to be employed, let alone lead, Howland founded her card-making business and pioneered an entire industry.

Legend has it that Romulus and Remus created the festival of Lupercalia to honor the she-wolf and the Roman fertility god Lupercus. The festival was raucous, sometimes violent, highly sexual, and sacrificial and took place during the month of February.

Its origins trace all the way back to the legend of Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf in a den they later named Lupercus on the Palatine Hill, where Romulus went on to found Rome. Supposedly, Lupercalia was a festival created to honor the she-wolf and please the Roman fertility god Lupercus.

- Lupercalia was associated with purification and fertility rites, seeking to ensure successful crops, fertility in women, and procreation.

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.