Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is derived from numerous traditions. The name comes from two Christian/Catholic saints and matyrs whose feast were formerly observed on February 14. One is said to have been a matyred Roman priest in c. 269 during the persecution of Cladius the Goth, and that he was buried in the Flaminian Way; the other was thought to be a bishop of Terni martyred in Rome. It is more possible that this is actually about one person. The association of Valentine's Day with love comes from yhe coincedence that the Roman festival Lupercalia was held near the same time.

Lupercalia is a higly barbarous festival held in honor of the Roman gods Fanus and Lupercus. Fanus was a fertility god who protected the fawn flora, hence the relationship with love and why we give flora to those we love on this day, and Lupercus was the god of wolves. Fanus and Lupercus were worshiped in a temple on the Palatine Hill. Lupercalia was originally celebrated on February 15. It was used to ensure the fertility of people, field, and flock for the New Year. First goats and a dog (wolf) were sacraficed on the Palatine Hill, then young men called Luperci raced around the border of the hill striking women they met with whips made from the goatskin. Women who were struck were ensured of fertility and of easy labor when they had children.

The Christian/Roman Catholic church changed Lupercalia to The Feast of St. Valentine's Day to hide its barbarism. This was one of the many reforms the church went under. The Valentine card also began with Lupercalia, in which women wrote their names on love notes and placed them in containers, the man who drew the note would seek that woman's favors. The custom of red comes from the red garnet birth-stone in which the wearer, may be sure of fidelity of love, which is associated with the Bible.