Courtesy of Danielle Langloism, Wikipedia CCLGoats and Lupercalia …
Luprecalia may be the most likely predecessor to the modern Valentine’s Day, says Yes Weekly in this roundup of Valentine’s Day Myths and Legends:
“Lupercalia was celebrated in Ancient Rome to run evil spirits from the city as to allow fertility and prosperity to flourish. Lupercus was the Roman equivalent to Pan, a shepherd god named for the cave in which Romulus and Remus were raised by wolves before growing up and founding the city.
“It was pretty much a street orgy, with men wearing goat or wolf skins, women offering themselves for mating and the sacrifice of two dogs and a goat.”
