Valentine's Day

I was asked at work today if I received a nice card and present from my husband for Valentine's Day.  When I replied "No, we don't believe in all that rubbish", I got some very funny looks. A woman that doesn't want a card on Valentine's day? 

I don't like cards, I think they are a waste of money.  After all they will only end up in the recycling bin next week. And the shops always increase the price on flowers this week too.  I would rather be given flowers for out of the blue, for no reason, instead of because someone decided it was the done thing to do on 14th February.

It isn't because we aren't a romantic couple, far from it, but neither of us feel that we need a special day to show our affection towards each other.  We do that every day of the year, not just on 14th February.

What also makes me wonder is how many people have actually thought about the origins of this day?  Well Valentine's day has its roots in paganism with a raucous festival known as Lupercalia.  Lupercalia is a rural festival of ancient origins, possibly even  pre-dating the Romans.  The festival took place in mid Februrary (13th - 15th) and its purpose was for purification of evil spirits and to ensure fertility.  

The focal point of this festival was a site on the Palatine hill caked the Lupercal, This was the legendary cave in which it is said the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus.  According to Roman tradition, it was also here, on Palatine hill, that a small community of shepherds lived in thatched huts, ruled by the founder of Rome, Romulus.  

The rite of Lupercalia required the sacrifice of goats and a dog in the Lupercal by priests called Luperci.  The blood of the sacrificed animals would be smeared onto the forehead of two young noblemen and then wiped off.  It seems at this point the young men were required to laugh.  Then the Luperci, clothed in loincloths, would run about the vicinity, lashing everyone they met with strips of skin from the sacrificed goats.  Newly married and young women were particularly keen to receive these lashes, as it was believed that the ritual promoted fertility and easy childbirth.  

Doesn't sound very romantic to me!

The name Valentine didn't come about until Christians attempted to outlaw the Lupercalia festival, failed and so appropriated it.  

The story goes that the Emperor Claudius II outlawed the marriage of young men.  He wanted them to bolster his army instead.  Valentine defied the ban and performed marriages in secret.  Unfortunately his flouting of the ban was discovered and he was executed in 270 AD
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It is not known if this story is true but it is rather a handy explanation for a Christian version of Lupercalia.