What is the true history of Saint Valentine's day?

The story behind the celebration and gifts.

When talking about the day of Saint Valentine’s  day, we immediately come to mind about the day of love and friendship, in which we receive gifts, flowers, details and hotels are full. However, nobody knows the true and spooky story about Valentine's Day.

In ancient Rome, the Lupercalia was a pagan festival in which orgies and animal sacrifices were performed.

                                                     source: (Tips-and-travel, 2015)

Each Lupercalia began with the sacrifice of the Luperci of goats and a dog, then they were taken to the altar to which they put a bloody knife on the forehead and the blood is cleaned with wool wet in milk.

the ritual required that the two young men laugh. After the feast of sacrifices, the Luperci cut the strips of the sacrificial animal skins and ran in two bands around the Palatine hill, hitting with the straps any woman who approached them (this allowed a woman is velva fertile). In the year 494 CE the Christian church under Pope Gelasius, the form of the rite was performed as the Feast of Purification.

                                                           Source: (Fiveminded, 2016)

Bibliography:

Tips-and-travel. (2015). « The Lupercal » February 15, celebration in ancient Rome, the origin of Valentine’s Day. Obtenido de Tips.and.travel: https://tips-and-travel.com/?p=10078

Fiveminded. (2016). Fiveminded. Retrieved from Saint Valentine's Day History: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdKZepHMFWE