Valentine's Day

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John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And…

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.

That is True, caring LOVE.

Now, let’s take a look at Valentine’s Day, which we are told is rooted in love.

Valentine’s Day is rooted in an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia.  It most likely was celebrated way before the time of the Romans, but we can trace it to back to here.  The festival was later known as Februa , which is where we get the name for the month of February.  During the Lupercalia festival, the Luperci (the priests of the god Lupercus) assemble before the Lupercal Cave, and sacrifice goats and puppies to their god. The worship of wolves is involved in the story as well.  Other deities associated with this festival are Juno, Februus, Romulus and Remus, Tiberinus, Rumina, Pan, and Faunus. Possibly more as the story and festival is soaked in pagan god worship. 

Romans were said to indulge in these festivities for fertility and protection, which is where the gods Juno and Februus come in.  Juno was the god of protection for the city.  Juno is the daughter of Saturn, wife of Jupiter, and mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, and Juventas. She is the Roman equivalent of Hera, queen of the gods in Greek mythology.   Februus is the god of purification, and also the underworld.  Februus and Faun are often considered the same deity.  Februus may have become the Roman Febris, goddess of fever.  Would make sense why would use terms like “He has the hots for you” and “love sick”. 

Here’s how they tie in.  Lupus means wolf, so Lupercalia most likely derives its name from the word.  The ritual and deities seems to center around the Lupercal Cave and the fig tree outside of the cave.  The Lupercal Cave is where it is said that Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars, suckled a she-wolf (Lupa).  Their story is attributed to the founding of Rome. 

Their story from Wikipedia reads: “Romulus and Remus were born in Alba Longa, one of the ancient Latin cities near the future site of Rome. Their mother, Rhea Silvia, was a vestal virgin and the daughter of the former king, Numitor, who had been displaced by his brother Amulius. In some sources, Rhea Silvia conceived them when their father, the god Mars, visited her in a sacred grove dedicated to him.[2]

Seeing them as a possible threat to his rule, King Amulius ordered for them to be killed and they were abandoned on the bank of the river Tiber to die. They were saved by the god Tiberinus, Father of the River, and survived with the care of others, at the site of what would eventually become Rome. In the most well-known episode, the twins were suckled by a she-wolf, in a cave now known as the Lupercal.”

Rumina is tied in because she is the goddess who protected breastfeeding mothers, and possibly nursing infants. She was also known to protect animal mothers. Rumina’s temple was near the wild fig by the Lupercal Cave where Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf. Tiberinus was believed to have brought the twin boys to this sacred tree.  Milk was offered as a sacrifice at her temple.

During Lupercalia, the Luperci priesthood known as “brothers of the wolf” would sacrifice a male goat or goats and a dog on the Lupercal alter under the supervision of Jupiter’s chief priest.  The priesthood would then wipe blood from the sacrificial knife on their foreheads, wipe it clean with wool soaked in milk, and then smile or laugh.

Next, there would be a feast, followed by the fertility festival.  The Luperci would cut pieces from the animal sacrificed, called thongs or februa, and then run around town naked in a counter-clockwise direction whipping women with the thongs of animal skin.  They believed the pregnant would have an easier delivery and the barren would become fertile.

Part of their hanky panky would be to put names of women on the hides and then place them in jars and pair couples off together.  Legend says this is where the exchange of Valentine’s Day cards comes from.

panThe sacrifices of the goats and puppies were made to their god, Lupercus, or Pan.  Pan is a disgusting deity who is soaked in sexual sin.  He’s nothing more than Satan and is depicted similar to the current baphomet photo from today’s day and age.  He practices homosexuality, beastiality, and other forms of sexual immorality.  This is most likely from where Peter Pan derived his sexual name.  He is said to lure humans and animals with his music playing from Pan Pipes. 

Valentine’s Day is rooted in pagan deity worship and desires of the flesh.  This is in complete opposition to YHWH.  We are to worship Him alone.  We are to sacrifice the desires of the flesh and walk in The Spirit.

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Deuteronomy 6:14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

Galations 5: 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galations 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

What does God tell us about Love in His Word?

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest:

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.