Happy Lupercalia, folks.
The pagan ancestor of our St. Valentine's Day, the Lupercalia was a religious festival in Alba Longa, the parent city of Rome, and still celebrated in the latter. It was celebrated by young Roman men (pubes Romanae) running around town naked save for a goat's skin (exuviae capri) with which they would hit women hoping to become pregnant. This odd display was to honor Pan. You may ask, "How did this tradition get started?" I don't know. And the Romans weren't sure either.
But if you're thinking Valentine's Day is the pits, just be glad there aren't guys running around hitting people with goat skins in the nude...unless you're into that sort of thing. O.o
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