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Lusty Lupercalia

The first day of spring was in February under the ancient Roman calendar. February 14 began a weeklong festival of cleansing and sanctification of new life. The most popular part was Lupercalia. It was originally a shepherd's festival. Its origin in Rome was tied to the twins Romulus and Remus, the kings of shepherds and founders of Rome. Legends say the she-wolf Juno-Lupa nursed them in a cave called Lupercal. A nearby grove was sacred to Lupercus, the god of fertility.

The priests, called Luperci, began by sacrificing goats. Then they chose two young noblemen. One of the priests touched their foreheads with a sword dipped in the blood of the sacrifices. Others wiped off the bloody spots with wool dipped in milk. The two youths then broke into laughter. This ceremony, called "lustrario," was a symbolical purification of the shepherds. Afterwards, the Luperci ate and drank large amounts of wine.

They cut the skins of the sacrificed goats into strips. They used some of these to make loincloths to dress like the god Lupercus. He was pictured naked except for a goatskin g-string. They made the rest of the skins into whips covered with goat fur, called februa. Then they ran through the streets of the city, lashing the bare breasts of all the young ladies they passed. New wives came out and lined the streets, eager for the privilege of being lashed. They believed this made them fertile and assured them easy childbirth.

"Neither potent herbs, nor prayers, nor magic spells shall make of thee a mother," wrote Ovid. "Submit with patience to the blows dealt by the fruitful hands of the Luperci." According to the poet, the Sabine women seized by Romulus were also barren until lashed by the februa.

The act of running with goatskin whips, called februare, was a symbolic purification of the land. The act of lashing the young ladies, called lustrare, was a symbolic purification of the people. "Lustrare" literally means, "to illuminate." It is also the root of the words "lust" and "luster."

It lost its original importance when Rome was no longer a nation of shepherds, but Lupercalia was always observed to honor the city's founders. Marc Anthony was one of the Luperci. He not only ran with them through the city wearing only a goatskin loincloth, but he even addressed the people in the Forum that way.

Lupercalia was observed all over Europe. It was so popular that it survived the onset of Christianity into the 5th century. Finally, in 494 CE the Pope banned it. He replaced it with the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, which survives today as Saint Valentine's Day. Many small villages in rural Italy still connect the day with fertility and rebirth, however, and celebrate it with feasting and drinking.

Except for the bloody sacrifice of live goats, Lupercalia is one Valentine's Day tradition that I wouldn't mind seeing revived. Instead of today's "Happy Valentine's Day," let me offer you a laurel and hearty "Lusty Lupercalia!"

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