Lupercalian Love: Ancient Roman Customs for Romance

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The pagan feast of Lupercalia was an ancient Roman festival celebrated on the 15th of February each year. This pagan holiday was a purification and fertility rite dedicated to Lupercus, the Roman god of shepherds and fertility. Lupercalia was a festive and lively celebration that involved various rituals and traditions. The festivities began with a sacrifice of a goat and a dog, which represented fertility and purification. The goat's hide was then cut into strips, and young men, known as Luperci, would take these strips and run through the streets of Rome, striking women and crops along the way. This was believed to promote fertility and protect against evil spirits.


A rabbit in a waistcoat ran past, muttering about being late. "Meh!" said Alice & went in for tea. The End.

Even the WWotW didn t know their full power, it wasn t until she got shocked by them that she realized they couldn t be removed until the wearer was dead. I think while there might not be a good in-universe answer methodologically-speaking without looking closer at the books , the obvious reason is because Dorothy was meant to discover or give them power herself.

Glendz good witch of the nirth

This was believed to promote fertility and protect against evil spirits. One of the most notable customs of Lupercalia was the matchmaking lottery. During the festival, unmarried men and women would gather, and their names would be placed in a box.

Why doesn't the Good Witch of the North immediately explain the power of the ruby slippers to Dorothy?

What is the deeper meaning behind the Good Witch of the North not telling Dorothy of the power that the ruby slippers held all along?

  • the-wizard-of-oz
Follow 48.6k 6 6 gold badges 150 150 silver badges 193 193 bronze badges asked May 8, 2020 at 4:34 Nuclear weapon Nuclear weapon 47 1 1 bronze badge The story has to happen. can‘t have Dorthy just teleporting everywhere. May 8, 2020 at 7:59

I think while there might not be a good in-universe answer methodologically-speaking (without looking closer at the books), the obvious reason is because Dorothy was meant to discover or give them power herself. This is a coming of age story and the shoes themselves are metaphorical to realizing that you need to be put in another person's shoes or be placed in a new role (alternate reality or dream) to learn how much you actually take for granted and love your life/family/home.

May 8, 2020 at 17:49

@morbo I don't think they allow "teleporting everywhere". They allow Dorothy to go So, likely how Jack in Pirates of the Caribbean can't just think of a place and have the compass point there, Dorothy can't just think of a place and teleport there.

Oct 31, 2020 at 15:47

@Acccumulation you need to think of my statement in the similar fashion to the eagles of LotR. having ex-machina level (magic) items at the very beginning of your story, when its clear what their power is, (Dorthy is quite literally told, to just think and click her heels) or you can just FLY across the planet, when the inherent problem of the the story or to overcome great distances, is tribulations/metaphorical growing up, whatever is simply bad and it won‘t allow the story to happen.

Oct 31, 2020 at 15:53
Pagan feast of luoercalia

A lottery was then conducted, pairing up the men and women who were chosen as partners. These pairings often lasted for the duration of the festival, and sometimes even led to marriages. Lupercalia was seen as a joyful and lighthearted celebration, with feasting, dancing, and merrymaking taking place throughout the day. It was a time of revelry and indulgence, with people drinking and eating to their heart's content. However, as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, Lupercalia faced opposition from the newly established Christian Church. In the late 5th century, Pope Gelasius I declared Lupercalia as a pagan festival and sought to replace it with a Christian feast. This resulted in the establishment of St. Valentine's Day on the 14th of February, which gradually overshadowed the pagan Lupercalia. Today, Lupercalia is largely forgotten, with its customs and traditions no longer practiced. However, its influence can still be seen in the modern celebration of Valentine's Day, which shares some similarities with the ancient festival. In conclusion, the pagan feast of Lupercalia was a lively and vibrant celebration in ancient Rome. It served as a purification and fertility rite dedicated to the god Lupercus. While it has been largely forgotten, its influence can still be seen in the modern celebration of Valentine's Day..

Reviews for "The Role of Lupercalia in Roman Mythology"

- Sarah - 1 star
I found "Pagan feast of luoercalia" to be extremely disappointing. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, jumping from one scene to another without any clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with them or care about their fates. Additionally, the writing itself was subpar, with awkward and clunky sentences that hindered my reading experience. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a well-written and engaging story.
- John - 2 stars
"Pagan feast of luoercalia" had so much potential but failed to deliver. The concept of a pagan feast intrigued me, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story halfway through. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe in the characters' motivations. Furthermore, the world-building was lacking, leaving me confused about the setting and the rules that governed it. In the end, I was left unsatisfied and frustrated by this book.
- Emma - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Pagan feast of luoercalia," but unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. The writing style was overly descriptive and flowery, which distracted from the actual plot. I often found myself skimming through paragraphs to get to the point. The story itself was predictable and lacked originality. It followed the standard tropes of a typical fantasy novel without bringing anything new to the table. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and wishing for a more captivating read.
- Michael - 1 star
"Pagan feast of luoercalia" was a complete waste of my time. The characters were poorly developed, with no clear motivations or growth throughout the story. The narrative was disjointed, with random plot threads that went nowhere and left me confused. The pacing was also off, with moments of intense action followed by long stretches of boring exposition. I struggled to finish this book and, in the end, felt no connection or satisfaction with the story or its conclusion. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and engaging read.

Lupercalian Symbols and Their Meaning

Ancient Roman Gods and Goddesses Associated with Lupercalia