The Library of Spanking Fiction: Wellred Weekly
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Articles
Items of interest regarding all things spanking
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Lupercalia  Anyone who has seen the Monty Python film, Life of Brian, will be all too familiar with the phrase, "What have the Romans ever done for us?", the answer of course, in summary, being quite a lot. Well, quite a lot in terms of the basic facilities we depend on for our general way of life, but what have the Romans ever done for us kinksters? The answer that first springs to mind is 'not a lot' but a little investigation suggests that might not actually be the case.On the 15th February each year the Romans held a festival called Lupercalia. It appears to have dated from such an ancient time that even by the first century BCE its origins had become unclear, not only that but the Romans themselves seemed a little confused as to which of their Gods was being honoured by it: Lupercus, Inuus or Faunus. Uncertainly as to its origins and symbolism however did not diminish its popularity or prevent it from being celebrated enthusiastically. The name of the festival is derived from the site where it was held, the Lupercal, a cave situated at the foot of the Palatine Hill. It was here that according to legend Romulus and Remus, Rome's twin founders, were found by the lactating she-wolf who suckled them until they were later discovered by the shepherd Faustulus.  The festival itself began with the sacrifice of two male goats and a dog by the Luperci (priests) after which a feast followed. From the skins of the sacrificed goats the Luperci then cut thongs which were known as februa, meaning 'tools of purification' (and providing the month of February with its name.) Armed with their goatskin thongs the priests then ran round the walls of the old Palatine city brandishing their februas. Girls and young women would then line up on their route in order to receive lashes from the thongs, extending their hands and baring their bodies. The flogging was believed to ensure fertility, prevent sterility in women and ease the pains of childbirth. At the time, however, infertility was considered a disease, so women desiring children implored the gods at Lupercalia and must have been only too keen to get lashed. William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, which begins during the Lupercalia, makes reference to the fertility aspect when Mark Antony is instructed by Caesar to strike his wife Calpurnia, in the hope that she will be able to conceive: To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say, The barren touched in this holy chase, Shake off their sterile curse. Although striking women with a februa was primarily regarded as a fertility measure there was also a definite sexual component with the act itself representing penetration. And although husbands would not have wanted the Luperci to actually copulate with their wives, symbolic penetration made by a fertility symbol was accepted. In one of her articles for Februs magazine, Paula Meadows provides a particularly satisfying description of the day's events:  "In the street there is a flutter of excitement and expectation. From a distance you hear a commotion: women yelping, the patter of running feet, even the faint slap of leather on flesh. Suddenly, two naked youths come pelting around the corner, their tanned bodies shiny with sweat, their faces exhilarated. Each is armed with a long whip made from thin lengths of animal hide. The street is immediately awash with activity as the youths dart hither and thither lashing lustily at the backs or bottoms of any individual they happen to pass."By the second century the ritual seems to have become much tamer with some of the elements of sexuality removed. One can see why the Christian church tried so hard to get the festival banned, but it was so popular that it continued for quite some time under the new regime. Generally, the end of the festival is attributed to Pope Gelasius (494-496) although other sources believe it was another late 5th century pope, Felix III. It seems the ritual had degenerated and it was no longer being performed in the proper manner. It is the elements of fun, fertility, and eroticism, as well as the date, that ties Lupercalia to Valentine's Day, but Lupercalia is not the direct, legitimate ancestor of the Valentine's Day holiday. So, maybe us kinksters should regard the relatively uninspiring and largely commercial Valentine's Day merely as the eve of Lupercalia and no more than the appetiser prior to the main event. But how then might we resurrect a form of Lupercalia acceptable to the current day and age that could be enjoyed by the spanko community? Well I'm certainly not going to go charging naked round my local supermarket brandishing a rubber-soled slipper, ferula or riding crop (my own spanking implements of choice) and whacking any young ladies near the Fruit & Veg foolish enough to leave their derrieres unprotected. Goat and dog slaughter is also not likely to be on the agenda as I'd consider it ethically unsound not to mention extremely messy! In addition, where I live the 15th February is likely to be damn cold with the likelihood of rain almost a certainty so any modern day Lupercalia is going to have to take place indoors. Anyway, at the appointed hour we could have organised gatherings of large groups of spanko women (or men, depending on your spanking orientation), suitably scantily dressed, or better still with their bottoms bared, awaiting the arrival of the men wearing wolf masks and armed with a spectacular variety of spanking implements of their own choosing. After that it would just be a case of running around maniacally and whacking the backside of as many women as possible in the shortest amount of time. Gets my vote anyway! Happy Lupercalia, one and all! 17 comments:
mati said...
I know that it's completely off-topic as it has nothing to do with Lupercalia and February, but the image of you charging naked round your local supermarket in connection with your article about the slipper in the last vol. remindes me on a german commercial of an online-shoe shop named zalando. The shoes were delivered to an FKK-camp. Now I can't get the image out of my head, that all the men take the delivered slippers and start whacking the naked women. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DeSXvlgS90 22 November 2011 09:27
lusher said...
This is a brilliantly researched and highly enjoyable read. Getting chased by handsome youths bearing floggers sounds rather more stimulating than receiving the typical card-and-a-crushed-bouquet. Don't give up on the outdoors idea; mid-February seems like the perfect time for a vacation at a warm-weather resort. Get a passel of like-minded friends involved, provide loads of togas, and you've got the makings for one hell of a Lupercalia party. Or perhaps it's the ideal opportunity for The Spanking Library to sponsor a cruise...just a thought! 22 November 2011 09:55
Linda said...
This is a fascinating read, informative and entertaining. I am familiar with Julius Caesar, but hadn't realised that 'touch' meant a bit more than the word usually implies. Thank you. 22 November 2011 20:51
TheEnglishMaster said...
A fascinating account - thanks. I learned a lot here, and not just about your febric imagination! It's great to learn about the possible link to St Valentine's Day, now to be known as Spankermarket Eve. 22 November 2011 22:13
AlanBarr said...
Absolutely fascinating! I wonder if there's any link with the Easter-time spanking rituals which persist to the present day in some Eastern European countries, 23 November 2011 09:38
corncrake said...
One of my earliest recollections of Latin history at school was a spirited re-enactment of the Lupercalia ritual.At the time, I absolutely loved it. No wonder I turned out the way I did! Thanks, Februs, for the memories. 23 November 2011 12:06
jimisim said...
In the Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii there is a presereved mural of the festival of Lupercalia. As well as its interest to spankos it is amazing to see this 2000 year old wall painting. This inspired me to research Lupercalia when I first saw it. An excellent and informative piece Februs. 23 November 2011 23:19
KJM said...
2012 Carnival will fall on February 21 which means that it will start on previous Friday, the 17th. Close enough. As Carnival in Brazil involves almost naked women and horny men frolicking along the streets in droves, can't we suppose that Lupercalia begat our modern festivity? 24 November 2011 02:13
sugarmouse said...
My vote too! Yes please, yes PLEEEEASE! 26 November 2011 21:09
jools said...
Sounds like a fun festival indeed...apart from the goat and dog sacrifices...In protest of animal (especially dog) slaughter I would happily run around the local supermarket fruit and veg isles stark naked to draw attention to the cause of animal rights hehe! Now should this inspire anyone to thrash me with a leek, or other suitable veggie, I wouldn't complain in the least. Yes, spare the animals but bring back Lupercalia. Many thanks for a very interesting and informative read Februs :-D 27 November 2011 08:14
barretthunter said...
Februs, if a young woman did leave her derriere unprotected (I assume this means unclothed, not just unguarded by hands or bag) by the fruit and veg in the supermarket, what would be the appropriate response? And would it be different if she was by the pizzas and ready-meals? 1 December 2011 17:33
islandcarol said...
Now you know, Februs, lupercalia would start off all serious and fun and degrade to the level of Now commercial New Orleans mardi gras. Soon celebrators would feel pressured to purchase little plastic floggers and paddles and false fannies to strap on like cowboy chaps except it would be over their bottom on top of clothes and the parade might interfere with a soccer match or football baseball pre-season game, horror of horrors. No the world is not ready for such celebrations. Let's keep this one in private homes and authentic! IC. 5 February 2012 01:58
catmama said...
I wondered where the name "Februs" originated. I had read somewhere that there was a festival of Lupercalia but of course, we true southern ladies were not to know of such things. It is too bad my blue-haired dried up old English Lit teacher didn't explain those finer points of "Julius Caesar". Your article was both educational and fun. I am ready to learn more. 10 March 2012 02:39
sixofthebest said...
Yes, having such a festival as the Romans did called LUPERCALIA, in those olden days made 'spanking sense'. So for the modern world, I designate Oct 8th, if written out it looks like a bare bottom, to be our Olympiad spanking festival. Instead of gold medals being handed out. A 'six of the best' caned strokes, for the winner. Three strokes for second, and one stroke, for third. 14 July 2012 15:18
BashfulBob said...
Very interesting article. Did I read somewhere that there is a similar custom at present in the Czech Republic? I think it is associated with St. Valentine's Day, but it may be Easter. So, a bit of flagellation is a cure for sterility? That sounds like a useful line. I must remember that the next time I am trying to coax a reluctant spankee! 9 August 2012 01:55
Spankedjenny said...
Thanks for the wonderful article. I think this festival should be resurrected and I would volunteer to line up to proffer my bottom for the cause. 6 July 2015 11:29
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Very entertaining story, Feb. When I was in Rome, I went to Pompei and in a small cafe' they had a place set aside for what they called Pompei Erotica. In several of the pictures were the naked men and women running around being whipped. I don't remember anything about the terminology you use, but I'm sure it was the same thing.
Thanks...
B