Valentine’s Day, a Kabyle origin

Valentine’s Day is the idea of a pope of Kabyle origin, St. Gelasius the first (496), who marked the history of the Catholic Church.

Is Valentine’s Day a Kabylian Celebration? No, says the forgers of history, who reduced the people of North Africa to shades in their territories. But let’s take a look at how people lived where the pope grew up, in Kabylia.In Kabylia they hold a large spring celebration, “Amenzou ttefsut” is this celebration called which means the first days of spring. This feast was originally a pagan feast celebrating fertility. Once upon a time, young women and men went out to make love in the fields, while the grass was still low. This celebration lasted for days and weeks. Some historians claim that the Catholic pope Gelasius did not have much sense for these orgies of his country’s men and women. Therefore, he limited this special act of love in public to lasting only 1 day a year. However, with the arrival of the Muslims, the tradition was lost against the restrictions of imravden (a Muslim sect) and the Quran. But the tradition has survived in another form: Young people come out to roll in the grass, pick edible and hallucinogenic plants called aderyes (for the celebration dinner). The meal is called ameqful (dry couscous with steamed vegetables) in many areas. Because of shyness, fertility has been transformed into another purpose: while rolling in the grass, young women and men shout “away with laziness!” to get out of winter hibernation and stretch their limbs (except one!).
Happy celebration to all who love each other!