Over the years we have shown that so many of the world’s celebrations are to be avoided. The world’s holy-days or holidays, days of celebration — religious or otherwise — keep coming round. Whereas God’s Holy Day calendar shows a Master Plan wonderfully thought out, the world’s days are just a jumble of days without any co-ordination or real meaning whatsoever.
One of those days rooted in paganism, Valentine’s Day, is just around the corner. Radio and television programs and advertisements will be full of it as will be newspapers, magazines and periodicals. Little, if any thought will be given to its background and whether it should be something to be involved with. The world ‘s society doesn’t think that way. God is not in the picture.
The world will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year on February 14th. Let’s notice the pagan origins of Valentine’s Day:
Centuries before Christ, the pagan Romans celebrated the evenings of February 14th and February 15th as an idolatrous and sensual festival in honor of Lupercus, the “hunter of wolves.” The Romans called the festival “Lupercalia.” In her book, “Customs and Holidays Around the World,” Lavinia Dobler states, on page 172, the following: “It was not until the reign of Pope Gelasius that the holiday became a ‘Christian custom.’ As far back as 496, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15th to St Valentine’s Day on February 14th.”
The Encyclopedia Britannica states on page 336 in its 15th edition, volume 10:
“St Valentine’s day as a lovers’ festival and the modern tradition of sending valentine cards have no relation to the saints but, rather, seem to be connected either with the Roman (sexual) fertility festival of the Lupercalia (February 15th) or with the mating season of birds.”
The Encyclopedia Americana states that “this pairing off was, of course, linked with sexual immorality.”
How did this pagan festival acquire the name of “St Valentine’s Day”? In addition, why is the little naked Cupid of the pagan Romans so often associated today with February 14th?
The Church published an article in “Tomorrow’s World,” in February 1970, explaining that Valentine was a common Roman name. Roman parents often gave the name to their children in honor of the famous man who was first called Valentine in antiquity. That famous man was Lupercus, the hunter. Who was Lupercus? Why should he also have borne the name “Valentine” among the heathen Romans? The Greeks called Lupercus by the name of “Pan.” The Semites called Pan “Baal” – mentioned so often in the Bible – and this name was merely another name for Nimrod, the “mighty hunter” (Genesis 10:9). The hunter Nimrod was the Lupercus – or wolf hunter – of the Romans. “St Valentine’s Day” was originally a day set aside by the pagans in his honor.
Alexander Hislop wrote something similar in the “Two Babylons.”
Here, then, is the real origin of the Roman Lupercalia. The early Catholic Church, seeking the allegiance of the Roman populace, attempted to “Christianize” this festival along with other popular pagan celebrations.
In the above-mentioned article in “Tomorrow’s World,” the Church also explained why the Romans chose February 15th and the evening of February 14th to honor Lupercus – the Nimrod of the Bible. (Remember that in ancient times, days began at sunset the evening before). Nimrod – Baal or sun god of the ancient pagans – was said to have been born at the winter solstice. In ancient times the solstice occurred on January 6th and his birthday therefore was celebrated on January 6th. Later, as the solstice changed, it was celebrated on December 25th and is now called Xmas. It was the custom of antiquity for the mother of a male child to present herself for purification on the 40th day after the day of birth. The 40th day after January 6th – Nimrod’s original birthdate – takes us to February 15th, the celebration of which began on February 14th – the
Lupercalia or St Valentine’s Day. On this day in February, Semiramis, the mother of Nimrod, was said to have been purified and to have appeared for the first time in public with her son as the original “mother and child.”
We have to remember that Satan is behind all of this society’s customs and practices, wanting to throw true believers off the Godly path. Satan is far cleverer and more subtle and crafty than any human being (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).
The world at large doesn’t realize that the devil is a real spirit being. He most certainly is, however, and his handiwork is all around for those who have eyes to see. Satan has blinded humanity and deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Is it any wonder then that when the days of this world come along that they are all inspired by the great deceiver? Jeremiah 10:2 tells us not learn the way of the heathen.
Valentine’s Day is one of those pagan days that has become part and parcel of the fabric of today’s society.
It is clear that Valentine’s Day – whichever way you look at it – has paganism written all over it. Paganism is not to be entertained by the people of God.
