Valentine's day in february, is when people affection and romantic interest in each other. By exchanging cards and gifts.
This charming custom had its origin in Roman religious practices.
The Lupercalia was a holiday celebrated by ancient Romans on February 15th. Its purpose was to honour the gods Lupercus and Faunus, and the twin brothers Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of the city of Rome.
The Lupercalia ceremonies were held on the Palatine hill, where the first Romans had built their homes. The priests of the gods Lupercus dressed in goatskins.
After sacrificing goats and a dog, they smeared themselves with blood. The priests then ran around the hill carrying a goatskin thong called a februa (instrument of purification).
Roman women placed themselves along the route around the palatine hill so that the priests could strike them with the februa. The women believed that this would assure the fertility and easy childbirth.
The ceremony also involved the pairing of the young men and women of Rome. The priests placed the names of the girls in a box. Each boy then drew a girl's name from the box and became paired with her until the next Lupercalia.
In A.D 270, the Lupercalia was made into a so called christian feast to honour St. Valentine, who was martyred in the 3rd century.
There are many stories about him. One tale says that Valentine was an early christian who made friends with many children. The Romans imprisoned him because of his refusal to sacrifice to their gods.
The children missed valentine and tossed loving notes between the bars of the cell window.
According to another story, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. The girl then fell in love with him.
It is believed that Valentine was executed on February 14 in A.D 269.
Source GLOBAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY the growth of civilization by HENRY BRUN, LILLIAN FORMAN and HERBERT BRODSKY
Nitatafsiri kwa kiswahili baadae
Yehoshua Hamochiah
This charming custom had its origin in Roman religious practices.
The Lupercalia was a holiday celebrated by ancient Romans on February 15th. Its purpose was to honour the gods Lupercus and Faunus, and the twin brothers Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of the city of Rome.
The Lupercalia ceremonies were held on the Palatine hill, where the first Romans had built their homes. The priests of the gods Lupercus dressed in goatskins.
After sacrificing goats and a dog, they smeared themselves with blood. The priests then ran around the hill carrying a goatskin thong called a februa (instrument of purification).
Roman women placed themselves along the route around the palatine hill so that the priests could strike them with the februa. The women believed that this would assure the fertility and easy childbirth.
The ceremony also involved the pairing of the young men and women of Rome. The priests placed the names of the girls in a box. Each boy then drew a girl's name from the box and became paired with her until the next Lupercalia.
In A.D 270, the Lupercalia was made into a so called christian feast to honour St. Valentine, who was martyred in the 3rd century.
There are many stories about him. One tale says that Valentine was an early christian who made friends with many children. The Romans imprisoned him because of his refusal to sacrifice to their gods.
The children missed valentine and tossed loving notes between the bars of the cell window.
According to another story, Valentine restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. The girl then fell in love with him.
It is believed that Valentine was executed on February 14 in A.D 269.
Source GLOBAL HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY the growth of civilization by HENRY BRUN, LILLIAN FORMAN and HERBERT BRODSKY
Nitatafsiri kwa kiswahili baadae
Yehoshua Hamochiah
