The importance of Lupercalia in Ancient Roman culture was primarily associated with fertility and purification. This festival, celebrated in mid-February, involved rites conducted by priests known as Luperci and included the sacrifice of goats and the ritualistic running of young men, who would flay the sacrificial animals and anoint themselves with their blood to promote fertility. Lupercalia was a time for physical purification and ensuring agricultural growth, reflecting the Romans' connection to nature and their emphasis on the cycle of life.