St. Valentine’s Customs: Feast, Wolf Whistle

Feast of Saint Valentine:: Italy: Young people gathered in groves and gardens to listen to love poetry and music. (2, 3)
The Wolf Whistle:: A man who chases after women. From the Roman fertility feast Lupercalia that celebrated the Wolf. (1)
Drawing Lots:: Rome: Roman youths drew the names of girls who would be their partners during Lupercalia. This custom was Christianized and spread to Europe. England and Germany: Name drawn known as valentine or sweetheart. Later, names of saints were drawn instead of girls and girls were supposed to model the saint’s behavior for the year. This change was not popular. France: The first young man seen by a girl on the morning of Valentine’s day became her boy-friend, called a cavalier or valentin for the year. At the end of the year engagement usually followed. (1, 2)