Is there anything wrong with Valentine’s Day? Because there is no biblical basis for its observance, we must look to secular history to determine its origin.

Centuries before Christ, the Romans celebrated the evenings of February 14 and 15 as an idolatrous and sensuous festival in honor of Lupercus, the “hunter of wolves.” They called it “Lupercalia.” The custom of exchanging valentines and all the other traditions in honor of Lupercus—the deified hero-hunter of Rome—was also linked anciently with the pagan practice of teenagers “going steady,” usually leading to fornication. This, according to the Encyclopedia American article titled “St. Valentines Day,” closely parallels today’s societal decline.

When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, there was much talk of doing away with the pagan free-for-all, but the Roman citizens would not hear of it. Only the more grossly sensual observances were toned down. By Pope Gelasius’s reign, the holiday had become a “Christian” custom appropriating the name St. Valentine in place of Lupercus (Lavinia Dobler, Customs and Holidays Around the World).

Valentine, or Lupercus, the hunter, was none other than “the mighty Hunter” Nimrod (Genesis 10:9). But why would the Romans set aside a day in his honor, albeit under a different name, St. Valentine? The word valentine comes from the Latin word valentinus derived from the word valens meaning “to be strong,” according to Webster’s Dictionary. Literally implying “strong, powerful, mighty,” Nimrod was their hero—their strong man—their valentine! Other names for Nimrod from the Greeks, Phoenicians and Semites confirm this.

An interesting point is that hearts were associated with honoring Nimrod. In the Babylonian tongue, the word for heart was bal (see Young’s or Strong’s Concordance). The heart—bal—was merely a symbol of Nimrod—the Baal or Lord of the Babylonians!

Another name for Nimrod is Saturn, a Latin word derived from the Semitic-speaking Babylonians meaning, “be hid, hide self, secret, conceal.” According to ancient tradition, Saturn (Nimrod) fled to the mountains of Italy and even briefly hid where Rome would later be built. Rome’s name, before it was rebuilt in 753 b.c., was Saturnia—the site of Saturn’s hiding. There he was found and slain for his crimes. Later, “Christians” made Nimrod a saint and continued to honor him under the name of a “Christian” martyr.

Nimrod—Baal or sun god of the ancient pagans—was said to have been born at the winter solstice, which anciently occurred on January 6, not December 25. It was the custom for the mother of a male child to present herself for purification on the 40th day after the day of birth. Forty days takes us to February 15, the celebration of which began on the evening of February 14—the Lupercalia, or St. Valentine’s Day. Semiramis, the mother of Nimrod, was said to have been purified and to have appeared for the first time in public with her son as the original “mother and child.”

The Roman month of February derives its name from the “februa,” which the Roman priests used in rites celebrated on St. Valentine’s Day. The “februa” were thongs made from the skins of sacrificial animals with which they struck women in order to take away their infertility.

Cupid, meaning “desire,” resulted from Semiramis lusting after her own son Nimrod, and as monuments in ancient Egypt bear out, she may have even married him. Later, as he grew up, Nimrod became the child-hero of many women who desired him. Daniel calls him the “desire of women” (Daniel 11:37). Ezekiel says that he provoked so many women to jealousy that an idol of him was often called the “image of jealousy” (Ezekiel 8:5).

As we can see, the observance of Valentine’s Day is rooted in pagan traditions. The celebration of Valentine’s Day is not commanded in the Bible. Rather, because it is based on the traditions of men, Christians should never participate in any of its abominable practices!