It began with a wild Bacchanal on February 14th and was followed by (about) 40 days of fasting until the Equinox.
Sound familar?
It was called Februa and the party was the feast of Lupercalia (the she-wolf).
I think that in a distant time, when we lived in small tribal groups, this ritual began for the following reasons:
By about February food is starting to get pretty sparse. Any food put away at the last harvest has either been eaten or spoiled. The first shoots of the spring are weeks away.
All the readily available game has been taken and there are no young to be killed yet.
It is a time of hunger and short temper. Everyone wonders what their neighbor has hidden, whether they are also as hungry.
So they throw (almost) all the food into one big feast, drink up their wine, mead, or beer, and everyone shares in the hunger until the Equinox.
Of course there is no way to substantiate any of this. It is just my conjecture.
And by the way, I practice Februa. As a way of honoring my Goddess I give up her favorite offerings for that period. Unfortunately for me, since she is South American, these include chocolate, coffee, rum, and fruit. It is a very long 40 days!
Bene,
Gentilis