Final answer:
In the Roman festival of Lupercalia, participants were touched with strips of goat hide dipped in sacrificial blood as part of a purification and fertility ritual.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Lupercalia was an ancient Roman festival celebrated on February 13 through 15, which included a purification ritual that involved the dripping of blood on participants. In this pastoral festival aimed at averting evil spirits and purifying the city, as well as promoting health and fertility, blood was an essential part. During the ritual, two young males of noble birth, known as Luperci, would sacrifice a goat and a dog, and after smearing the sacrificial blood on their foreheads, it would be wiped off with wool soaked in milk, and they were expected to laugh. The Luperci would then run around the Palatine Hill, striking anyone they met with strips of the goat's hide. The touches of the bloody strips were believed to increase fertility in women, which was a key aspect of the festival's purpose. Despite the seemingly barbaric nature of the rite, it was carried out in a festive atmosphere and was deeply integrated into Roman society and culture. This tradition reflects the wider ancient practice where blood was viewed as a life force and was used in various sacrificial ceremonies to communicate with the gods or to serve as a representation of life and regeneration.