In South Africa, women literally wear their heart on their sleeve. On February 14, they often pin a paper heart, featuring the name of their crush or partner, onto their sleeves to openly declare their love or romantic interest.
Although South Africans call this tradition Lupercalia in honor of an ancient Roman fertility festival, scholars suggest that the roots of this romantic ritual were actually laid by Pope Gelasius in the Middle Ages. The story goes it’s all because he banned what was considered an immorally pagan Lupercalia festival and replaced it with a day honoring the Patron Saint of Love, Saint Valentine.
While the tradition is a fun nod to history, many still follow this custom as a charming way to make a bold move, often ensuring that secret admirers are not secret for long.
