Lucy Samuel uncovers the origins of Valentine’s Day
As February approaches, images of roses, chocolates and teddy bears flood the media, signalling the arrival of Valentine’s Day. But where did this holiday originate? To uncover the roots of this modern celebration, we must turn to ancient Rome. Dating back to the sixth century BC, the Lupercalia was a pagan festival held annually around the 15th of February. With its unconventional (and sometimes bloody) rituals, the Lupercalia shares surprising connections to Valentine’s Day, offering a fascinating glimpse into evolving cultural practices.
The origin of the Lupercalia is a bit of a mystery and was even debated by ancient thinkers. It is believed that the festival was originally derived from rituals of purification and fertility held in honour of the Roman god Lupercus. In Latin, lupus means ‘wolf’, hinting that the festival could have also honoured Romulus, the mythological founder of Rome who was raised by a she-wolf alongside his twin brother, Remus.
During the festival, priests (known as Luperci) gathered in a cave on the Palatine Hill called the Lupercal, where Romulus and Remus were believed to have been nursed by the she-wolf. The Luperci performed a sacrifice of dogs and goats – animals associated with virility – in honour of Lupercus. The blood was then dripped onto participants’ foreheads and immediately wiped off with wool soaked in milk, representing purity.
Afterwards, the Luperci divided into two teams and raced half-naked around the foot of the Palatine. The runners held strips of sacrificed animal skin and whipped any women standing close enough to the race, in the hope of blessing them with fertility. The Lupercalia also featured a ‘blind dating’ element: men and women were paired at random for the duration of the festival, with many couples falling in love and marrying. Finally, a feast would take place in which participants would eat the sacrificial meat and drink wine.
So how does all of this connect to modern Valentine’s? The answer lies in the story of Saint Valentine.
There are many stories about Valentine, but the most popular one describes his execution on the 14th of February, around the third century AD. Roman Emperor Claudius II sentenced Valentine to death for helping persecuted Christians and marrying Christian couples in secret. Another story involves a blind girl named Julia, the daughter of Valentine’s jailer. Valentine is said to have tutored her, and after they prayed together, her sight was restored. On the night before his execution, Valentine left Julia a note, signing it ‘from your Valentine’ (just like modern-day cards!) After some time, the Catholic Church eventually recognized Valentine as a saint, marking his martyrdom on the 14th of February. In the late fifth century AD, Pope Gelasius I replaced the pagan festival of Lupercalia with a day to honour the ‘patron saint of love’.
Today, modern Valentine’s Day has become centred around romantic love, but it still shares similarities with the Lupercalia, notably the colour red (previously representing sacrificial blood) and the spring date. Over the centuries, Valentine’s Day has transformed from the wild and unusual rituals of the Lupercalia into the celebration of love that we recognise today, nuanced by the compassion and resilience demonstrated in the story of Valentine.
So, as you buy chocolates and flowers this February, take a moment to reflect on the fascinating history behind the holiday—and be thankful you don’t have to race around a hill in your underwear like the Romans!
