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Another Tradition of men: Valentine's day

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Posted by: StarChilde

God did not give us Valentine's day. Did you know that Valentine's day is another holiday that originated in pagan roots? Yes, it is from the pagan celebration of Lupercus, which was a fertility celebration.Historians trace Valentines day to an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia February 15. The pope wanted to outlaw this festival and so Pope Gelasius declared February 14 Valentines day around 498 Ad.

The first interpretation has this celebration originating as a pagan tradition in the third century. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. The God Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. Every February the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks.

Also during Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata, the names of young women were put into a box and names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year, which began in March. This celebration continued long after wolves were a problem to Rome.

As Christianity became prevalent, priests attempted to replace old heathen practices. To Christianize the ancient pagan celebration of the Feast of Lupercus, the church officials changed the name to St. Valentine's Day. To give the celebration further meaning and eliminate pagan traditions, priests substituted the drawing of Saints names for the names of the girls. On St. Valentine's Day the priest placed saint's names into an urn or box. The young people then drew a name from the container. In the following year, the youth was supposed to emulate the life of the saint whose name he had drawn.

By the fourteenth century they reverted back to the use of girl's names. In the sixteenth century they once again tried to have saintly valentines but it was as unsuccessful as the first attempt.

Many do not know this information. There is more in almost any encyclopedia about it. It joins the ranks of holidays changed from pagan roots to Christian holidays by the catholic church to bring the pagans and their money into the church. These holidays include Lent, Easter,(named after Ishtar), Halloween,Christmas, Valentine's day, the more popular ones.It is very interesting to know all of this~Jesus said something about following the traditions of men...or following God...ask yourself this day...which do you do?


Posted by: woofytoyou

I find that most DO know about the pagan roots of Valentines Day
except all the details, but don't CARE. And still go to great
lengths as Christians to acknowledge and go through the
traditions that follow the day.
Did you know that the Calender you put on your wall and
the days/months in it are all from pagan roots as well?
We could go cuckoo in chucking everything the world has out
there too, and sit in a bubble - or let your light shine through
all of it, -
my husband and myself don't follow Valentine's Day, but I do
give my child chocolate and a cuddly toy. Keeping kids
away from the fun all the rest partake in isn't fair to them
either.
Birthday celebrations have pagan roots too. The cake and
candles. We are still in the world, yet we don't have to
believe what they do and 'eat' of it. Or get all legalistic
about it.
Common sense to the day, as the days grow progressively
closer to lawlessness , and speak up for Jesus through it all.
Woofy


Posted by: kasi64

i spent four years of my childhood with an aunt who was A jehovah witness. while my aunt bashed our heads and beat us unmerciful she paganed us this and pagened that.......we were seperated on celebrations at school,(THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO KEEP JWS ISOLATED AND EVEN MORE DEPENDANT ON THE CULT) our gifts that our relatives had given us were promptly taken to goodwill while we watched.ect ect. i lived in the apitamy of legalism! and my soul rebelled because i knew the LORD and i was called the devil and believe me she tried to beat him out of me.



this is a such a touchy subjet for me. i have went out of my way to insure my kids have wqonderful memorys of thier birthdays, christmas, valatines,ect. since i have really been trying to live for HIM though these celebrations have changed. Halloween, we go to our church which has a arktoberfest.( Our childrens church is a 1/12 scale of the ark) i do NOT allow my kids to dress in any demon, violent, vile, witchs ect, ect. we do still trick or treat but i dont decorate or make a big deal out of it. i also dont give the DEVIL what he wants, his due. birthdays are celebrations of a gift GOD has given me,, my hubby and my precious children but the glory goes to GOD for thier lives not them. it is a day to let them feel special and unique.

Christmas has totally changed. i used to have this urgency to let everyone know i celebrated CHRISTMAS!!! I always hoped the jws would come around then it looked like christmas threw up in my house. NOW my kids know exactly why we celebrate CHRISTMAS and EASTER. not for us but FOR HIM. His BIRTH ,DEATH AND RESURRECTION.


Valentines is not that big of a deal in our house i give a little token of my affection to each of my loved ones. that is it.



i have to admit, i am one of those people who continue to fret about "if you do this you will go to hell" do this this way" mainly because of the abuse i encountered as a child. i felt really condemed last night when i read this and sad. but you know what My salvation does not come from my works and i will have to answer to GOD by myself and I ask him to search my heart and FOR the holy spirit to guide me. he knows where my heart is. it belongs to HIM first and formost. love KASSY


Posted by: MamaCat

Quote:
Originally Posted by StarChilde
God did not give us Valentine's day. Did you know that Valentine's day is another holiday that originated in pagan roots? Yes, it is from the pagan celebration of Lupercus, which was a fertility celebration.Historians trace Valentines day to an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia February 15. The pope wanted to outlaw this festival and so Pope Gelasius declared February 14 Valentines day around 498 Ad.

The first interpretation has this celebration originating as a pagan tradition in the third century. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. The God Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. Every February the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks.

Also during Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata, the names of young women were put into a box and names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year, which began in March. This celebration continued long after wolves were a problem to Rome.

As Christianity became prevalent, priests attempted to replace old heathen practices. To Christianize the ancient pagan celebration of the Feast of Lupercus, the church officials changed the name to St. Valentine's Day. To give the celebration further meaning and eliminate pagan traditions, priests substituted the drawing of Saints names for the names of the girls. On St. Valentine's Day the priest placed saint's names into an urn or box. The young people then drew a name from the container. In the following year, the youth was supposed to emulate the life of the saint whose name he had drawn.

By the fourteenth century they reverted back to the use of girl's names. In the sixteenth century they once again tried to have saintly valentines but it was as unsuccessful as the first attempt.

Many do not know this information. There is more in almost any encyclopedia about it. It joins the ranks of holidays changed from pagan roots to Christian holidays by the catholic church to bring the pagans and their money into the church. These holidays include Lent, Easter,(named after Ishtar), Halloween,Christmas, Valentine's day, the more popular ones.It is very interesting to know all of this~Jesus said something about following the traditions of men...or following God...ask yourself this day...which do you do?


Col. 2:16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

Actually it goes back to Saint Valentine, who suffered persecution and prision because as a minister, he married many couples against the King's command.

It only matters to God where our HEARTS are at in relation to these things.