The History of Lupercalia A Queer, Kinky Tradition

As far back as the 6th century BCE, even before the Roman Empire began to rise, people of the Italian peninsula have celebrated a festival called Februa in early spring. The most important ritual of the Februa was called the Lupercalia. Sources differ on the specifics of this festival, as information is little and often contradictory. The name alludes to the Luperci—the “brothers of the wolf”—a priesthood in Rome that could reference one of two things: the founding myth of Rome and the twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a mother wolf, or the Arcadian culture-hero Evander, who has an unclear connection to the founding families of Rome. Being a member of the gens (family) Fabia offered an opportunity to join the Luperci, as they claimed to be descendants of Evander. 

The origins of the festival that later became known as Lupercalia are unclear, though some scholars believe it originates with the Sabines, who lived in central Italy before the Romans. How they celebrated it is unknown, but in Rome, people celebrated it as a fertility and purification festival, complete with animal sacrifice and symbolic painting on the foreheads of young men in blood and milk. Ovid describes a ritual in which the skins of sacrificed goats were cut into thongs–called februum, where the name of the Februa, and the month of February, got their names–and used to smack people, believing it to impart fertility. Kinky.

Despite the Catholic Church’s attempts to remove all “Pagan” festivals and rituals in the late 300’s CE, Lupercalia persisted up until the year 494, when Pope Gelasius I pushed for its dissolution despite protests from the Roman Senate. Religious figures pushing their personal agendas through a government agency? Color me surprised.

Many people connect the dissolution of Lupercalia with the institution of Valentine’s Day, as the same Pope added Saint Valentine to the Calendar of Saints in 496, but that connection does not seem to have been intended, and in fact the first person known to have connected Lupercalia and Valentine’s day as a celebration of romantic love was Chaucer, in 1382.

Though history is rarely as simple as it looks on the surface, this seems like a familiar tale: A “pagan” holiday is banned by the Catholic Church; more “appropriate” holidays slide into dates that are close to those festival days, either to purposely replace them or through coincidental historical shenaniganry, and after a few centuries, those religious holidays become heavily commercialized. And, in more recent years, the older festivals are reclaimed by modern religions. In this case, the Satanic Temple.

Meaning and Celebration in the Satanic Temple

The Satanic Temple was officially founded by Lucien Greaves and Malcolm Jarry in 2013 in the “Satanic Reformation,” a split from the Church of Satan founded in 1966 by Anton LaVey. The Church of Satan does not appear to celebrate Lupercalia, though the Satanic Temple does.

“The Satanic Temple has translated (Lupercalia) into a ‘hail yourself’ day,” says Legz Fi Daisy. “Satanists I’ve met are typically more interested in creating new traditions that are relevant to our lives today (as opposed to reclaiming or recreating old traditions).” As co-congregation head elect of The Satanic Temple Colorado, she agreed to answer some questions about the holiday, though wanted to note that she could only speak on behalf of the Satanic Temple Colorado congregation, not necessarily for The Satanic Temple Global Organization or for all Satanists.

Beyond being a celebration of self-love, Lupercalia as observed by the Satanic Temple is also a celebration of bodily autonomy. Bodily autonomy is fundamental to the Satanic Temple. Literally. Of the Seven Fundamental Tenets that outline Satanic morality, Tenet III–One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone–is by far the tenet that gets the most press. From a long-running campaign to ban corporal punishment in schools to continuing battles to protect reproductive rights, bodily autonomy is a theme in much of the Satanic Temple’s work. 

“A lot of this work takes place beyond the congregation level,” Legz Fi Daisy says, “specifically through the Religious Reproductive Rights Campaign, which is organized distinctly from the Congregations.” She goes on to elaborate on some specific efforts of the Religious Reproductive Rights Campaign, such as “warning people about misleading crisis pregnancy centers that are more interested in manipulating pregnant peoples’ emotions than affirming their autonomy over their bodies.”

In addition, she mentions that, “There are efforts to vindicate our rights equal to those of any other religion in the courts.” The Satanic Temple is quick to point out that they are, in fact, a religion, and through being recognized as such, attempt to protect bodily autonomy by advocating for religious freedom.

In fact, a memory deeply etched into my mind is a moment from the Sacrilegious Sunday event held on Easter 2022 by burlesque troupe ConSensual Circus and the Satanic Temple Colorado, who routinely collaborate on events. The burlesque performer reenacted a Satanic abortion ritual in which one recites two of the Seven Fundamental Tenets as well as a personal affirmation during the process of a medical or surgical abortion.

The moment was deeply uncomfortable, but infinitely more freeing. Abortion is such a stigmatized issue that even the most intensely supportive people would rather not see a representation of it. This performer opened the eyes of everyone in the room to how beautiful it can be to reclaim your sovereignty over your own body.

Celebrating Bodily Autonomy Without Roe v Wade

All that said, bodily autonomy—specifically reproductive rights were badly diminished in 2022. After the repeal of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court, people all over the country have been left floundering. 

We are lucky here in Colorado to have our reproductive rights protected by state law, and, as Legz Fi Daisy says, “Coloradoans can instead focus on enshrining rights and protections into our laws and constitution.” Elsewhere, though, people are forced to travel across state lines for abortion procedures due to gestation period limits that often end before someone would know they were pregnant or even total bans on procedures. 

Legz Fi Daisy insists that this attack is all the more reason to celebrate bodily autonomy. “Cherishing our bodies and our rights bolsters our wills to fight that much harder to defend them.” 

She suggests that, “One can celebrate Lupercalia in any range of ways that are personally meaningful to one’s sexuality or lack thereof. Perhaps it’s as simple as some adult fun alone or with an established partner, a safe and responsible hook-up, or even a break-up. 

“One could celebrate by making that appointment for reproductive health care, whether for fertility or contraception, or anything that affirms your own worth and autonomy.” 

There is a Lupercalia Self-Love Ritual on the Satanic Temple Colorado’s website which is meant to “redirect our focus on the Satanic sentiment of empowering the self.”

In addition, perhaps those of us who celebrate Lupercalia could renew our commitment to ensuring bodily autonomy for everyone, through protests, donations, and volunteering, for example. Being in a position of privilege as we are, in a state that allows us the right of control over our own bodies, it is our responsibility to ensure that right for those who are not so fortunate. 

“It’s in the face of claims of authority over our bodies that it becomes important not just to value your autonomy, but to stand up and assert it.”

Ave, and Happy Lupercalia!