Valentine's Day Origins

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The origin of Valentine's Day comes from the Roman feast of Lupercalia. The Lupercalia celebration was a pagan tradition that started around the third century A.D. Roman shepherds kept their flocks outside the city in nearby fields. These flocks were often attacked by packs of wolves. Lupercus was a god who watched over the shepherds and their flocks and protected them from the wolf packs. In February the Romans honored Lupercus with a feast called the Lupercalia. Sacrifices and offerings were made to Lupercalia, who in return would protect the flocks in the upcoming year.

During the feast of Lupercalia offerings were made to the goddess Juno. The names of all the young women were put into a box and drawn by the young men. Each boy was matched to the girl whose name he drew out, and they were considered partners for the rest of the year.

In Northern Europe young girls decorated their pillows with five bay leaves, hoping they would dream of their lovers or husbands to be.

Valentine's Day