Here is a quote from Warren Ellis: Valentine’s Day is a Christian corruption of a pagan festival involving werewolves, blood and fucking. So wish people a Happy Horny Werewolf Day and see what happens.

Suddenly I am a lot more interested in Valentine’s Day then before. A look at the Wikipedia entry of Valentine’s Day mentions the following about the origins of the festival:

Lupercalia, of which many write that it was anciently celebrated by shepherds, and has also some connection with the Arcadian Lycaea. At this time many of the noble youths and of the magistrates run up and down through the city naked, for sport and laughter striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. And many women of rank also purposely get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregnant will thus be helped in delivery, and the barren to pregnancy.

And more details revile themselves once you look at the entry for Lupercalia:

The festival began with the sacrifice by the Luperci (or the flamen dialis) of two male goats and a dog. Next two patrician young 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 smearing of the forehead with blood probably refers to human sacrifice originally practised at the festival.

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 tradition itself may survive (Christianised, and shifted to Spring) in certain ritual Easter Monday whippings.

So, if you are bored by the commercialised version of today’s Valentine’s Day, simple ask your partner if she/he would prefer a more traditional version this year. If the answer is yes, forget about flowers and chocolate and get a goat and a lash instead.