👿 Lupercalia and the Dark Origins of Valentine’s Traditions 👿

💀 The potential origins of Valentine's Day trace back to the ancient pagan festival of Lupercalia, a celebration of fertility held in mid-February. During Lupercalia, which persisted for centuries, men participated in rituals that included animal sacrifices and nudity, aiming to invoke blessings of fertility upon the community. 🔥To begin the festival, Roman priests gathered at a sacred cave where the founders of Rome were cared for by a lupa or she-wolf. The priests then stripped the skin of a sacrificed goat, for fertility and a dog for purification. The strips were dipped into blood to gently slap women.
Each year on February 14th, the world observes Valentine's Day, a day when millions express affection and appreciation for their loved ones through messages and gifts. 🔥While commonly associated with Saint Valentine, a third-century priest, the day's roots likely stem from the Roman pagan festival of Lupercalia, characterized by rituals quite different from the modern romantic gestures typically associated with Valentine's Day. 🩸