Lupercalia
| Lupercalia | |
|---|---|
Lupercalia, oil painting, circa 1635 | |
| Observed by | Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, Roman Empire |
| Type | Classical Roman religion |
| Celebrations | feasting |
| Observances | sacrifices of goats and a dog by the Luperci; offering of cakes by the Vestals; fertility rite in which the goatskin-clad Luperci strike women who wish to conceive |
| Date | February 15 |
Lupercalia, also known as Lupercal, was a pastoral festival of Ancient Rome observed annually on February 15 to purify the city, promoting health and fertility. Lupercalia was also known as dies Februatus, after the purification instruments called februa, the basis for the month named Februarius.