DARK HISTORY - Lupercalia

Think Valentine's Day is all about teddy bears and overpriced dinners? Think again. This week, we peel back the candy-coated layers of February 14th to reveal its savage, pagan heart.

From the dark caves of the Palatine Hill to the blood-slicked streets of ancient Rome, we explore the ritual of Lupercalia. It wasn't just a festival; it was a visceral display of sacrifice and survival. We dive into the "Februa" (the raw goat-hide whips), the sacrificial dogs, and the disturbing reason why the youth of Rome were eager to be struck by the blood of the fallen.

Before the Church gave it a saint, the Romans gave it blood