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The Dark and Violent Origins of Valentine’s Day
The truth behind the history of the day of love
There are few holidays on the calendar as divisive as Valentine’s Day. To young love birds, it is an exciting chance to go on a date and exchange gifts and sweet nothings. To the mature couple, it is a potential spark or pitfall to look forward to or avoid. To the single person, it can be a painful reminder that love remains frustratingly out of reach. To the cynic, it is a so-called “Hallmark Holiday” designed to pump useful dopes for their disposable income. But for all of its faults and publicity, few people know the origins of Valentine’s Day. In fact, the history of Valentine’s Day is remarkably hazy. However, it is well understood that the earliest origins of the holiday has its roots in Ancient Roman Paganism and the holiday on which it is built is much darker and more violent than Valentine’s Day has ever been.
The Roman holiday that preceded Valentine’s Day was known as Lupercalia. It was celebrated in Rome and throughout the empire. Lupercalia means Purification, and the holiday was focused around cleansing the heart of the city and promoting fertility. Lupercalia was celebrated on the Ides of February or February 15th. Celebrations would last between February 13th and February 16th, and they involved complex and ancient rites performed by Rome’s…
