Lupercalia is said to be the ancient precursor to Valentine’s Day and was a pastoral festival of Ancient Rome observed each year on February 15 with the aim of purifying the city and bringing health and fertility to its residents. The festival had its own priesthood which consisted of primarily young men. These men would sacrifice a goat and a dog, and would then run naked through the city whipping anyone they met, with the hides of the animals they had just sacrificed. Women, particularly the young, would line up for the men to whip them believing this would make them fertile and make childbirth straightforward for those already pregnant.
Comentarios