The name of February from the Etruscan god Februus and the Roman Lupercalia

In most European languages, February is named after the Roman tradition. In Rome the month was called februarius mensis, after the Etruscan god of the underworld Februus, who was associated with rites of purification (februa, februare, februum), as was the month named in his honour. In mid-February the Romans celebrated the pastoral festival of fertility and purification, the Lupercalia. In the cave of the Lupercal at the foot of the Palatine Hill there took place a sacrifice, a ritual banquet and a festive run through the city by naked patricians, covered only by pieces of the hides of sacrificial animals. In Christian Rome the Lupercalia was replaced by Saint Valentine's Day