Lupercalia

“The wolves in the woods have sharp teeth and long claws, but it’s the wolf inside who will tear you apart.” ― Jennifer Donnelly, Stepsister (novel)

It’s February, and most people’s thoughts turn to Valentine’s Day. Many contemporary Pagans add Imbolc into the mix. However, I find another festival day during February most meaningful. An ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia.

Lupercalia has gotten a lot of attention in the last few years. Pagans who love to poke Christians on social media enjoy pointing out the similarities between Lupercalia and Valentine’s Day. And television series such as The Chilling Tales of Sabrina help bring it to the public eye.

The Ancient Festival of Lupercalia

For those that don’t know, Lupercalia was an ancient pagan festival held each year in Rome on February 15 that dates as far back as the 6th Century B.C.E. and maybe further. Wikipedia accurately describes Lupercalia as “a bloody, violent, and sexually charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking, and coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits and infertility.”

The origins of Lupercalia have been lost to time. Most scholars think it relates to the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, who, according to myth, were raised by a she-wolf. The festival’s name may be derived from the Roman fertility god Lupercus.

The festival would start with priests sacrificing a male goat and a dog at Lupercal cave while laughing and smearing the blood on their foreheads, followed by public feasting. After the feast, nude men would race around whipping any woman they could with strips made from the skin of the sacrificed goats.

Part of the festival included the pairing of single men and women by the men pulling women’s names from a jar. The couples would stay together all year until the next festival. It was common for couples to fall in love and marry during this time.

A Modern Lupercalia 

An attribute the wolf shares with us is the trait of being an apex predator. However, the wolf is a natural predator, while humans require tools to achieve their position of power. Therefore, one of the meanings of the archetypal wolf is of the primal, uncivilized human. We see our animal side found deep within us in the archetypal wolf. 

Lupercalia isn’t about the sacrifice of animals. Or naked individuals whipping others with goat skins (which is okay if you’re into that and it’s consensual among all participants). The eternal spirit of Lupercalia is a recognition of the goodness of the physical body and the enjoyment of our carnal desires. 

The modern Lupercalia is a time to release your inner wolf and howl at the moon.