Lupercalia

The Lupercalia festival was partly in honor of Lupa, the she-wolf who suckled the infant orphans.

The festival began with the sacrifice by the Luperci (or the flamen dialis) of two male goats and a dog.[7] Next two young patrician Luperci were led to the altar, to be anointed on their foreheads with the sacrificial blood, which was wiped off the bloody knife with wool soaked in milk, after which they were expected to smile and laugh.

The sacrificial feast followed, after which the Luperci cut thongs from the skins of the victims, which were called Februa, dressed themselves in the skins of the sacrificed goats, in imitation of Lupercus, and ran round the walls of the old Palatine city, the line of which was marked with stones, with the thongs in their hands in two bands, striking the people who crowded near. Girls and young women would line up on their route to receive lashes from these whips. This was supposed to ensure fertility, prevent sterility in women and ease the pains of childbirth.

This was Valentine's Day before "Valentine's Day." Enjoy your dumb chocolate hearts and greeting cards. My flower shop is sold out of roses (800+ and only two of us to process them), morale is low, and this florist is exhausted. You can bother me again on Mother's Day, but until then I'll be sleeping off this awful holiday. (and yes I am fully aware that I am biting the hand that feeds me.)