Lupercalia is a celebration or festival in honor of the roman God of fertility. This celebration started in Rome. It took place on February 15 and went on for 3 days. Lupercalia derives its name from lupercus the God of shepherds. In ancient Rome this festival was first done to help with cultivation and harvest. It later was used to rid the empire of evil spirits, purifying the city and to release health and Fertility. The celebration consisted of the priest sacrificing a goat and a dog whose blood the people dipped their whips in and marched around the city. After dipping the whips in the blood of the sacrificed animals the whips were used to strike the women across the buttocks as they paraded half naked along the street. On the eve of the festival young girls names were written on a small piece of paper and put in jars and the young boys would pick a name. After picking the name they were allowed to be together for the remainder of the festival sometimes up to a year. This would often lead to marriage. Salt meal cakes were served by the vestal virgins. Vestal virgins were priestesses of vesta, the goddess of the hearth.
By the 5th century the honoring of Lupercalia or pagan festivities were outlawed but the Roman Christians still hung to Lupercalia. Some modern researchers claim the modern custom of saint valentines day originate from Lupercalia.
We are all born into different cultures with different ideas and belief systems. We find ourselves going along without questioning anything. There is no way we can live in this world and not notice the many wrongs which goes on continually, and as we build our faith in God he opens our heart and mind to come to the truth.
Saint valentines was a real person. He was a temple priest who was jailed for defying the ruler at that time who was Claudius 11. He would marry Christian couples and he also helped christians who were being persecuted. Since it was against the law to aid Christians he was jailed and later beheaded for trying to convert the emperor or ruler Claudius 11 to becoming a Christian. Now the world celebrate Valentine's with no questions asked. Once again we just do what others around us has always done not realizing this is just another act of corporations raking in the money while we foolishly spend it. I do not need a day set aside as a reminder to tell my loved ones that I love them. That should be done regardless. A man should not go out of his way to try and please me on Valentine's Day, that should be done continually on his behalf without worldly reminders. I cannot do what everyone else do I can only do what my heart tells me to do.. We get trapped in these customs and belief system which has nothing to do with God almighty only to find out that we are adhering to something that honors other Gods instead of the Most High God. So let's question everything and adhere only to the things which are pleasing to our savior. John 8:32 Seek ye the truth and the truth shall set you free.
