Pagan Origins of Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is celebrated every year on February 14th as a day of romance, love, and affection. Across the globe, people exchange cards, flowers, and gifts to express their feelings to loved ones. However, beneath the sweet gestures and candlelit dinners lies a darker, lesser-known origin steeped in paganism and religious compromise.

Pagan Roots: The Feast of Lupercalia

Before it became known as Valentine’s Day, this celebration was deeply rooted in pagan traditions. In ancient Rome, a festival called Lupercalia was held in mid-February to purify the city and encourage fertility. The event honored the Roman god Lupercus and the goddess Juno, both associated with fertility, love, and protection.

Lupercalia was a wild three-day festival running from February 13th to 15th. Priests known as Luperci would gather at the Lupercal—a sacred cave where Romulus and Remus, Rome’s legendary founders, were believed to have been suckled by a she-wolf. There, they would sacrifice a goat and a dog, smear the blood on two young men’s foreheads, and laugh it off with wool dipped in milk.

The ritual didn’t stop there. The young men, often naked or scantily clad, would run through the streets striking women with strips of the goat’s hide. This bizarre act was believed to increase a woman’s fertility and chances of bearing children. The event also included a matchmaking lottery, where names of young men and women were drawn at random to pair off for the festival—sometimes even leading to lasting relationships.

The Legend of Saint Valentine

Fast forward to the 3rd century A.D., and another story enters the fold—one more palatable to Christians. Saint Valentine, a Christian priest, defied the decree of Roman Emperor Claudius II, who banned marriages for young men to keep them focused on military service. Valentine secretly married couples in defiance of this law.

Eventually, he was discovered, imprisoned, and sentenced to death. While in prison, he reportedly fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine”—a phrase that lives on today.

Though touching, this story is not enough to erase the festival's pagan roots, which remain the foundation upon which Valentine’s Day was built.

The Merger of Pagan and Christian Traditions

Over time, the early Christian church sought to merge pagan festivals with Christian beliefs to make conversion more palatable. Lupercalia was “Christianized,” and Saint Valentine became its new symbolic figure. But make no mistake—the core rituals and themes of Lupercalia were simply dressed in new clothing.

By the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love, especially in England and France, where it was believed that birds chose their mates in mid-February. But again, the timing and themes echo ancient fertility rites more than Biblical purity.

A Biblical Perspective: Is Valentine's Day for Believers?

From a Biblical standpoint, participating in Valentine's Day is problematic at best, forbidden at worst. The Bible repeatedly warns against adopting the customs and religious practices of other nations, even if they appear harmless or well-intentioned.

Here are just a few examples:

• Deuteronomy 12:29–32 — God commands Israel not to inquire about how other nations worship their gods, nor to adopt any of their religious customs.

• Deuteronomy 18:9–12 — Prohibits participation in the abominable practices of other nations, including ritual sacrifices, divination, and sorcery.

• Jeremiah 10:2–3 — Tells us not to learn or imitate the way of the nations, even if their customs seem appealing.

• Deuteronomy 12:30–31 — Specifically warns against worshiping God the way pagans worshipped their gods, stating clearly: "They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods."

• 2 Kings 23:7 — Describes the destruction of ritual booths in the temple of YHWH, where pagan sexual rites were being practiced.

These verses highlight a consistent theme: God despises syncretism—the blending of His worship with that of false gods and pagan rituals.

Conclusion: Should You Celebrate Valentine's Day?

Valentine’s Day, despite its modern image as a celebration of love and affection, is deeply entangled with pagan fertility rituals and unbiblical traditions. While the story of Saint Valentine is often used to justify Christian involvement, the holiday’s foundation remains in stark contrast to Biblical teachings.

For followers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, this is not just a matter of personal preference. It’s a question of obedience and spiritual purity. The Most High calls His people to be set apart, not to blend in with the world and its traditions.

So the next time February 14th rolls around, ask yourself:Who are you really honoring?