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Read me: Love Spells to Lure Your Partner This Valentine’s Day. Over time, Eros got a taste of his own medicine. His mother, Aphrodite, was jealous of Psyche (a beautiful mortal woman who later became a goddess) because she was receiving a lot of attention from prospective suitors. Valentine’s Day is the Modern equivalent of Lupercalia, even though much of the symbolism of the former has been lost over time, subsumed into the latter’s imagery of hearts, red, white and pink. Those colors, and the same themes, come from Lupercalia; how can we, as Modern Pagans, living in a Modern World, embrace this holiday? Valentine's Day as a Commercial Holiday . Valentine's Day is no longer part of the official liturgical calendar of any Christian church; it was dropped from the Catholic calendar in 1969. Its not a feast, a celebration, or a memorial of any martyrs. In the late 5th century A.D., Pope Gelasius I eliminated the pagan celebration of Lupercalia and declared February 14 a day to celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Valentine instead, although it’s Valentine’s Day in Greece is not a big holiday, but each year brings more red and white stuffed bears and heart-shaped candy boxes to Greek shops. Like Halloween in Greece, it’s becoming a bigger holiday each year, at least in the hearts of merchants. A popular phrase today and very true statement. As Valentine’s Day has grown to become a huge commercial celebration worldwide, so has the popularity of its most recognizable symbol, the rose. For us to understand the meaning of the rose, we need to go back to Ancient Greece and to Goddess Aphrodite, the creator of the rose. It’s often speculated that Valentine’s Day has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, and it’s not hard to see why. Lupercalia was observed on February 15, and involved fertility rituals — albeit along with animal sacrifice and ritual whipping. Yet the link between this pagan festival and the Christian feast day that morphed into our modern ode to love and romance is Two of the most easily recognized symbols of Valentine’s Day are the heart shape and Cupid. Both of these have their roots squarely planted in Ancient Greece. Beyond the symbols of Valentine’s Day, Greece embodies many of the ideals of love, romance, long life with the ones we love, and great food. Wine. Romance. These are common elements of modern Valentine’s Day, but they’re a far cry from the holiday’s origins more than 2,000 years ago, when the holiday was first marked as a festival of breaking up with long-term boyfriends. What we know as Valentine’s Day was celebrated by ancient pagans after the midwinter festival of Imbolc. Lupercalia was the original Valentine's Day. Unable to stop this popular orgiastic festival, early church fathers created a sainted martyr Valentine, patron of lovers whose feast day would be February 14th, thus, sanctioning a celebration they could not suppress. The Valentine’s Day tradition of giving a box of candy was started in the 19th century by Richard Cadbury, a scion of a British chocolate manufacturing family. Eros, the son of Greek goddess The Valentine's Day icon began as a handsome young man in Greek mythology. Eros — the son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love — would play with the hearts of mortals and gods to cause mayhem This Valentine's Day Crystal Box is perfect for the lovely of your life who prefers sparkling stones to flowers! Inside this heart shaped box: - Twin Point Candle Quartz Tower to symbolize two joining together in love - Amethyst Heart - Lepidolite Palm Stone - Raw Prasiolite (Green Amethyst) - Raw Red Calcite - Raw Pin While February 14 is widely celebrated with sweet Valentine's Day treats, heartfelt Valentine's Day gifts, and romantic dinners, few people are familiar with the holiday's true origins. You might remember making Valentine's Day crafts at school or picking out cute Valentine's Day candy to share with classmates, but just how did these traditions
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