Lupercalia

[loo-per-key-lee-uh, ‑-keyl-yuh]

noun

plural

Lupercalia, Lupercalias 

1. a festival held in ancient Rome on the 15th of February to promote fertility and ward off disasters.

Lupercalia

/ ˌluːpɜːˈkeɪlɪə /

noun

1. an ancient Roman festival of fertility, celebrated annually on Feb 15 See also Saint Valentine's Day

Other Word Forms

• Lupercalian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lupercalia¹

Latin, from Lupercālis belonging to Lupercus, a Roman god of the flocks

Example Sentences

Historians believe that Valentine's Day is rooted in the Roman love and fertility festival, Lupercalia, and was a move by Gelasius I to Christianise pagan traditions.

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Some believe that Valentine’s Day is an offshoot from the ancient festival of Lupercalia, a raucous Roman fertility rite held in the middle of February.

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Lewis also shared with Fox News the story of the pagan celebration Lupercalia.

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She explained that Lupercalia was celebrated in Rome between February 13–15 to stave off evil and celebrate fertility.

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Chapter 14, “Lupercalia,” finds Sabrina and Nick taking part in the Academy’s annual celebration of teenage debauchery.

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