Lupercalia
Lupercalia
O! Yon Pagan festival Come on come all
Merry men named Valentine Two of which
One who was a priest in third century Rome
He whom defied Emperor Claudius II ban on marriage
His reasoning for banagement he thought it distracted young soldiers),
He illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death.
Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome
Where is this the humanitarian love?
And that he actually sent the first "valentine" message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed "From your Valentine. Some believe Valentine's Day commemorates the death of St. Valentine on February 14
Others instill believe that the holiday actually has its origins in a Pagan fertility festival called "Lupercalia,"
Celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome Dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus, the day was celebrated by sacrificing animals and smacking women with animal hides, a practice that was believed to encourage fertility.
Lupercalia
At the end of the 5th century, Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared;
This the date of February 14 as"St. Valentine's Day.";
It wasn't until the Middle Ages, though,
That the holiday became associated with love and romance,
A tradition that first started from the common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14.
Lupercalia
"Language of flowers" red roses
Esther A. Howland. Known as the "Mother of the American Valentine," Howland is credited with commercializing Valentine's Day cards in America, and she is remembered Medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415. Charles penned this sweet note to his lover while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Lupercalia
el día de los enamorados (day of lovers) or día del amor y la amistad (day of love and friendship). Though couples exchange flowers and chocolate on this day, the holiday's focus is also directed at showing gratitude to friends!
“XOXO” is a popular signature. The origins of the signature, however, stem from the Middle Ages. During those times the “X” symbolized the Christian cross, and letters ended with the sign of the cross and a kiss to symbolize an oath. As the gesture became more popular in literature, letters and paperwork, it came to mean something had been “sealed with a kiss.”
Lupercalia
“XOXO”
2/14/22
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2022
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