Lupercalia and the call of the She-Wolf

Lupercalia is an ancient fertility festival in Rome. It is a mid-winter festival and ritual intended to cleanse the city of illness and evil spirits, bringing health and fertility to the people. Lupercalia is based around a ritual performed by the priests of the Luperci and honors Lupercus the God of shepherds, the Roman version of Pan. Lupercus protects the herds from wolves. Wolves have quite the influence in the meaning behind the feast. Many believe Lupercalia’s name is derived from Lupus and named after the she-wolf who nursed and protected Remus and Romulus, the twin brothers that founded Rome. Interesting that the ritual honors the god who protects the people from wolves AND named for the she-wolf who helped raise the founders of Rome.

The ritual performed on Lupercalia involves the sacrifice of goats and a dog. After the sacrifices are made, the bloody knife is then touched to two of the young priests’ foreheads and wiped clean with wool soaked in milk. The ritual is not complete until the young priests laugh. I guess that is to lighten the mood?? After the ritual a feast is held. Strips of hide from the sacrificed goats are used by young men or the priests to whip the legs of the city’s women, each lashing is supposed to insure their fertility. The festival was raucous and carnal, many people coupling for the night or longer. A lottery was held where men pulled the names of women, and the couples then set out to see if the fertility rites had been fruitful