Happy Valentine's Day
Did you know? Nah, most people don't. Valentine's day, the day for lovers, secret admirers and the like has a spiritual origin of sorts. The name is related to something started by the catholic church, in honor of St. Valentine. The legends associated with him cannot be proven however. There also was a gnostic teacher named Valentinius that taught the idea of sexual relations being right up there with baptism, annointing, and redemption. But the relation to the saint(s) and the celebration of the day really have no common ground- except to cover for yet another more 'pagan' activity in our history.
In Rome, the 15th of Feb was called Lupercalia or the the festival of Lupercus the god of fertility, A half dressed god covered only by goat skins. In a ritual on that day, the priests of Lupercus would sacrifice goats to this god, and after drinking wine would run through the streets of Rome with chunks of goat skin, waving them about. They would attempt to touch everyone they saw as a blessing of fertility.
Now days, we'd be in big trouble if we killed a goat. Not to mention we'd be locked up for mental illness to wave chunks of it down the street, trying to touch our neighbors or strangers with it. While civilization has matured a bit by changing the ritual, the purpose remains the same. Our innate want and desire to reach out and touch someone, to tell someone we care about them. To express our passions - ultimately fulfilling the first commandment ever given; Be fruitful and multiply.
Here's an odd bit of trivia to go with this article- during the 1700's, condoms were made from ... sheep intestines.
Have a happy Valentine's Day.
Bless somebody with your attention.
In Rome, the 15th of Feb was called Lupercalia or the the festival of Lupercus the god of fertility, A half dressed god covered only by goat skins. In a ritual on that day, the priests of Lupercus would sacrifice goats to this god, and after drinking wine would run through the streets of Rome with chunks of goat skin, waving them about. They would attempt to touch everyone they saw as a blessing of fertility.
Now days, we'd be in big trouble if we killed a goat. Not to mention we'd be locked up for mental illness to wave chunks of it down the street, trying to touch our neighbors or strangers with it. While civilization has matured a bit by changing the ritual, the purpose remains the same. Our innate want and desire to reach out and touch someone, to tell someone we care about them. To express our passions - ultimately fulfilling the first commandment ever given; Be fruitful and multiply.
Here's an odd bit of trivia to go with this article- during the 1700's, condoms were made from ... sheep intestines.
Have a happy Valentine's Day.
Bless somebody with your attention.
posted by Chris at
6:53 AM
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