The Weird History Podcast · Joe Streckert

234 Lupercalia

·14 min·1 clip

When the Pope abolished the bloody, kinky Lupercalia, people didn't stop celebrating—they just layered a saint's day on top.

This episode explores the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a bizarre February ritual involving naked priests, goat-skin whips, and public smackings meant to promote fertility. It traces how this bloody, primal celebration likely influenced and evolved into the modern holiday of Valentine's Day, despite efforts by the early Church to suppress it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Weird History Podcast