What is the fertility festival associated with purification and protection in Roman culture?

Lupercalia is the fertility festival in Roman culture that is particularly associated with purification and protection. Celebrated on February 15 each year, Lupercalia involved various rituals aimed at promoting fertility and ensuring the health and safety of the community. Central to the festival were the Luperci, priests of the god Lupercus, who would perform rites that included sacrifices and the famous running about the city while striking people with strips of goat skin to promote fertility.

The festival's origins were deeply rooted in pastoral and agricultural practices, aligning with the need for purification and protective rites to foster a bountiful spring. The rituals were believed to ward off evil spirits and ensure the fertility of both fields and people, making it a powerful event in the Roman calendar.

The other festivals listed, while also significant in their own right, had different primary focuses. Lemuria was concerned more with appeasing the spirits of the dead, Compitalia celebrated the Lares, or household gods, and Liberalia was associated with the coming-of-age ceremonies, particularly for boys. Therefore, Lupercalia stands out specifically for its association with fertility, purification, and protection, making it the correct answer in the context of the question.