Valentine’s Day is Not About Romance or Love

Contrary to popular belief, Valentine’s Day is not about romance or love as people are led to believe

Contrary to popular belief, Valentine’s Day is not about romance or love as people are led to believe. Yes, you read it right! Read on for the deets.

Hey there, love hunters and history buffs! My name is Elder Dan, your host. Today, we’re diving into the wild origins of Valentine’s Day – and trust me, it’s nothing like the chocolate-and-roses fantasy you’ve been told. I will take you back to ancient Rome where Valentine’s all started.

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The Shocking Truth Behind February 14th

Imagine a festival where:

• Naked men roam around

• Animal sacrifices are the main event

• Women line up to be whipped (yes, you read that correctly)

This wasn’t some underground cult – this was a mainstream Roman celebration called Lupercalia and later rebranded as Valentine’s Day! The goal? Fertility. The method? Absolutely bonkers.

The Gritty Details

Priests would sacrifice goats and dogs, smear blood on themselves, and then use strips of animal hide to whip young women. Why? They believed this would magically boost fertility. Talk about a different kind of Valentine’s greeting!

From Pagan Ritual to Hallmark Holiday

Around 500 AD, Pope Gelasius saw this wild festival and thought, “Let’s rebrand this.” He transformed Lupercalia into Saint Valentine’s Day, essentially putting a Christian mask on a pagan party.

Transition from Pagan to Christian Celebration

The connection between Lupercalia and modern Valentine’s Day traditions is tenuous at best, with limited direct influence on our current celebrations.

In the late 5th century, Pope Gelasius I established February 14th as a day to honor Saint Valentine, effectively replacing the pagan Lupercalia festival. However, this replacement wasn’t immediate or direct, as Valentine’s Day didn’t acquire its romantic connotations until centuries later.

The transition from fertility rituals to romantic love represents a softening and romanticizing of the holiday’s themes over time.

The Roman Catholic Church addressed the pagan origins of Valentine’s Day through a process of Christianization in the 5th century AD. Pope Gelasius I played a crucial role in this transformation:

Replacement of Lupercalia: In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I officially replaced the pagan festival of Lupercalia with Saint Valentine’s Day.

Date Change: The observance was moved from February 15th to February 14th.

Rebranding: The Church attempted to infuse Christian elements into the existing pagan celebration by renaming it after Saint Valentine.

Shift in Focus: The holiday’s emphasis was redirected from the pagan god Lupercus to Christian saints.

Modification of Practices: While some pagan customs were retained, the more extreme sensual observances were eliminated.

Syncretism: The Church adopted a strategy of blending popular pagan beliefs with Christian ones to facilitate conversion and retain members.

Saint Veneration: People were encouraged to draw lots with saints’ names instead of potential romantic partners.

However, it’s important to note that this Christianization was not entirely successful in eradicating the holiday’s pagan roots. Over time, Valentine’s Day evolved to incorporate both Christian and secular elements, eventually returning to its focus on romantic love in subsequent centuries.

In modern times, some contemporary groups and individuals have reimagined or adapted elements of the ancient festival:

Pagan and Neopagan Observances: Some pagan communities may celebrate a version of Lupercalia, adapting its themes of fertility and renewal to fit contemporary beliefs.

Satanic Interpretation: Some people have reimagined Lupercalia as a celebration of bodily autonomy and sexual liberation.

Personal Rituals: Some individuals create modern rituals inspired by Lupercalia, such as symbolic purification practices like smudging or candle lighting and creating Lupercalia cards.

Yes, Valentine’s Day wasn’t about romance or love – it was about raw, unbridled fertility, known in the past as “Lupercalia” in ancient Rome!

So the next time someone gets sentimental about Valentine’s Day, remind them it started as a sexually charged fertility festival with zero romance and love and plenty of violence.

And yes, true love isn’t about a commercialized holiday – it’s about real connection. And definitely not about getting whipped with animal hides. Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is a man-made holiday, not a genuine holy day mentioned in the Bible! Therefore, let’s drop the roses, look back at history, but don’t embrace it!

Remember what Almighty Yahweh, the Father in heaven, warns people about when He says in the Bible in Deuteronomy 12:30-32: “Be careful not to follow their ways after they have been destroyed, and do not ask about their gods. Do not worship Yahweh your Elohim in their way, for they do detestable things to their gods. Do everything I command you, and do not add to it or take away from it.”

Friends, if you’d like to continue this conversation or share your thoughts on this topic, leave a comment below or reach out to me directly. Feel free to visit our main website and read more about this topic by clicking here and to learn more real truths from the Bible.

I’m sure many of you are surprised by these things I have discussed today, but I’d like you to know that spreading truths is very crucial in our ministry. Yes, we truly care about you, our dear readers and listeners, and we want you to learn the genuine truths in all things!

Brethren, before I go, let me pray this prayer for you: May Yahweh bless you and keep you; may Yahweh make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. I humbly pray all these things to Yahweh through Yahshua the Messiah, our Master and coming King, amen. Kindly keep praying for the shalom of Israel. Take care. Halleluyah!