Origins:
Lupercalia - in ancient days before the birth of Christ, Romans celebrated the eve of February 14 and 15 in honor of Lupercus the 'hunter of wolves'.
The festival begins with a sacrifice consisted mainly of two male goats and a dog. It is initiated by the Luperci, 'the brothers of wolf', a group of priest of the Roman god Faunus. Then two young Luperci patrician will have their foreheads anointed with the sacrificial blood and were expected to laugh and smile. After this, the Luperci priests will cut a thong from the sacrifice's skin and made a whip dipped with their own blood. Holding the whips on their hands, the Luperci priests ran the walls of the city striking the people who crowded near.
Usually, young women gathered in line waiting for the lashes of whips to hit them. The reason behind this practice was that Romans believed that this lashes will ensure fertility, prevent sterility and deliverance from the painful labour of pregnancy.
Lupercalia
As far back as 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius I abolished Lupercalia and changed it into a less sensuous celebration of fornication and fertility. Thus one of the famous and probably the most beloved pagan feast of Rome was Christianized and became a day holy to one of Catholic's patron saint of love and marriage.
What the Bible says:
1) Do not learn from the way of the pagans.
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
-Jeremiah 10:2
2) Do not follow the traditions of men.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
-Colosians 2:8
...Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
-Matthew 14:6
3) Do not follow the commandments of men as doctrine.
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
-Matthew 14:8-9
Cupid - the beloved winged-boy found in most Valentine cards, who was depicted as a cherub who shot arrows to lovers has its pagan roots.
Cupid and Venus
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of erotic love and beauty. He is the son of Venus the goddess of love and Adonis the great hunter. In Greek version, he was called Eros and the English word eros was originally taken from his name.
In paintings and sculptures, he was seen as holding a bow and arrows with wings that of an angel. In Valentines card, he is often depicted as a mischievous child who pierce arrows to people causing them to fall in love. Other notable symbols found alongside Cupid are hearts and roses.
What the Bible says:
1) You should have no other gods other than God Almighty.
I am the LORD thy God...Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
-Exodus 10:6-7
2) Do not make graven images or idols.
Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.
-Exodus 10:8-9
4) Do not follow the traditions of other religions.
When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
-Deuteronomy 12:29-32
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
-Colosians 2:8
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