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    Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

    Soooo, since it's pretty obvious to my co-workers that I place no importance on Valentine's Day at all, they've all made it a point to tell me that Valentine's Day is a 'Christianized' version of Lupercalia and I'm a 'bad Pagan' for not celebrating it :P

    The truth is, I'm not versed enough on Lupercalia or any of the multitudinous St. Valentines to have a worthwhile rebuttal. All I know is that Lupercalia somehow involved the cave where Romulus & Remus' wolf-mother suckled them... and topless women running the streets being lashed by young priests wielding goat-skin thongs. Or maybe its young men in thongs wielding goats?

    Even though I do include Mediterranean pantheons in my eclectic worship, most spring festivals aren't included in my practices because I'm not that big on fertility rites. Yes, I know they can be used to 'seed' or 'grow' projects, but my personal experiences with deities who love to take things literally make me leery of trying anything out, lest my 'seeded project' somehow ends up w/me being subject to alien impregnation (or my husband's vasectomy spontaneously reversing) or some crap like that.

    Anyway, can anyone give me better information on Lupercalia & its links to Valentines Day (and not just dubious links to misleading websites)?
    The forum member formerly known as perzephone. Or Perze. I've shed a skin.

    #2
    Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

    Hmm. I don't know about Lupercalia, but you can always have your coworkers read this: http://www.mint.com/blog/trends/how-...s-the-economy/
    �Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.�
    ― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
    Sneak Attack
    Avatar picture by the wonderful and talented TJSGrimm.

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      #3
      Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

      I feel the same way about Valentines that I do about modern versions of most holidays...TOTALLY secularized. I celebrate most secular holidays even though they have a Christian background and I'm not a Christian, because they're a large part of our society and have been so for thousands of years, and are practiced in places such as Berlin, were religion doesn't hold much weight (this is allegedly one of the most atheist western cities in the world...)

      I do V-day. I like the idea of having a day set aside to celebrate love. It might not be traditionally Greek in its current form, but I'm an eclectic and I'm not overly concerned...call me bad or fluffy but I'm just not. As a devotee of Aphrodite I think it's a nice thing to celebrate, no matter where the tradition comes from

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        #4
        Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

        Originally posted by Juniper Raven View Post
        Hmm. I don't know about Lupercalia, but you can always have your coworkers read this: http://www.mint.com/blog/trends/how-...s-the-economy/
        I usually tell them Valentine's Day was invented by Woolworth's in the late 1800s to buck up their 1st Quarter slump, lol.
        The forum member formerly known as perzephone. Or Perze. I've shed a skin.

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          #5
          Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

          see also: http://wildhunt.org/blog/2011/02/the...tines-day.html

          Hallmark can have this one.
          Be Excellent to each other - or something will Happen to you.

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            #6
            Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

            Today, it's all about the money--oh yeah, just like every other holiday.
            Sleep, my friend, and you will see
            That dream is my reality

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              #7
              Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

              I'd like to think its also about chocolate! X
              "You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me"- CS Lewis


              https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyHagenART

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                #8
                Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

                Oh yeah. And chocolate. You're right. My bad.

                ---------- Post added at 02:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:14 AM ----------

                And beer. Can't forget the beer.
                Sleep, my friend, and you will see
                That dream is my reality

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                  #9
                  Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

                  Originally posted by FantasyWitch View Post
                  I'd like to think its also about chocolate! X
                  Me too! I always get myself chocolate on valentines!

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                    #10
                    Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

                    I usually get myself flowers. I seem to be missing the "chocolate gene" LOL Not a big fan of all the commercialism that surrounds holidays but if it helps some people rediscover each other or become closer, then it's all good. Of course it can be pretty hard on single people.
                    As to the origins of the different holidays, I feel the actual days and the ways in which we celebrate them have become more cultural icons than anything else, so, while I find the history interesting, I don't base my celebration on it.
                    sigpic
                    Can you hear me, Major Tom? I think I love you.

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                      #11
                      Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

                      I'm not supposed to eat chocolate anymore, anyway. Caramel, though - I can celebrate caramel every day.
                      The forum member formerly known as perzephone. Or Perze. I've shed a skin.

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                        #12
                        Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

                        Originally posted by Hawkfeathers View Post
                        Not a big fan of all the commercialism that surrounds holidays but if it helps some people rediscover each other or become closer, then it's all good. Of course it can be pretty hard on single people.
                        As to the origins of the different holidays, I feel the actual days and the ways in which we celebrate them have become more cultural icons than anything else, so, while I find the history interesting, I don't base my celebration on it.

                        ...pretty much my assessment on the day as well
                        Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryPagan Devotionals, because the wind and the rain is our Bible
                        sigpic

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                          #13
                          Re: Lupercalia & Valentine's Day

                          To be honest with all of you... Valentine's day seems to me like one of the most 'why in the name of <input own god/greater being or greater power name> was that invented'.

                          Just to mock and to feel more bad us, who already feel bad... who dont have a partner... FML!
                          sigpic

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                            #14
                            Re: Lupercalia &amp; Valentine's Day

                            I know that commercialized, as well as traditionally, it's been more of a celebration of romantic love, but I don't think it has to be that way. I've never had a boyfriend on valentines day, but I have had some great days. A few I had nice dinners with friends, and a few I made nice dinners alone. I like to think of it as a time to reflect on all the love I have in my life, even if I don't have a boyfriend. I have great friends and a family who is super supportive and amazing, and I've learned to love myself as well.

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                              #15
                              Re: Lupercalia &amp; Valentine's Day

                              Agree, it can be hard because the romantic love aspect is what's usually commercialized (although I've seen a good bit of family love this year, actually) - but it's really what you make of it. Spend time with friends and family, and treat yourself to something nice.
                              Hearth and Hedge

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