There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentines Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries.
Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailers daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".
Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.
In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800s and now the date is very commercialised.
The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.
翻譯：關於情人節的起源有許多種說法。有關人士認為情人節是一個名叫桑特-瓦倫丁的人士發起的。他是羅馬人，因為拒絕放棄基督教而於公元前269年2月14日慘遭殺害，這一天也正好是全城盛行彩票抽獎的日子。而另外一種說法更具有傳奇色彩，相傳桑特-瓦倫丁曾留下一本日記給了獄卒的女兒，署名為“你的情人”，據說這名獄卒的女兒就是桑特-瓦倫丁的情人。還有其它的說法也頗為有趣。
比如說有人認為在克勞迪亞斯君王統治時期，桑特-瓦侖丁曾經是一名神父，因為公然挑戰克勞迪亞斯君王的權威身陷囹圄。所以公元前496年羅馬教皇格萊西亞斯特意將2月14日作為一個特別的日子以紀念桑特-瓦倫丁。此後2月14日就成為了一個具有特殊意義的日子。在這天人們向自己心儀的人傳遞資訊以示愛意。而理所當然的桑特 瓦侖丁也就成為了為戀愛中的男女們牽線搭橋的人。在2月14日這天人們會特意做詩或者用一些小禮物送給自己心愛的人。而且人們還會組織各種各樣的聚會來慶祝這個特殊的節日。艾瑟-霍蘭德小姐是美國第一位因為傳送情人節卡片而受到榮譽獎勵的人。早在19世紀初情人節就已處露商業化的端倪。
而如今情人節已經完全被商業化了。 比如每當每年2月14日來臨的時候，一些城鎮如羅夫蘭、克羅拉多等，這裡的人們都要派送大量的為情人節特備的卡片。而在這天人們往往吟歌做詩並且把這些寫入卡片中送個自己喜歡的人以表達自己的愛意。而在學校裡孩子門也喜歡互增賀卡來度過這個特殊的節日。久而久之就形成了一種習俗並且延續至今天。
Valentine’sDay is on the February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries aroundthe world, although it remains a working day in most of them. After New Year'sDay, it is the most celebrated holiday around the world. It’s a holiday forlovers or couples.
This is a festival of love and romance, as well as flowers,chocolates, greeting cards. On that day, there are many activities for couplesto celebrate, showing their love to mate. Gift exchanging is the most common. Inrecent years, February 14 become much more popular than before, although thereis another Valentine’s Day in China. Besides, there are many people choose thatday to propose marriage or get married. In short, it’s a day of love.
情人節在每年的2月14日，世界上的許多國家都慶祝這個節日，雖然那一天在許多國家都是工作日。新年過後，這是全世界範圍內最隆重的專屬於情人們的日子。這是一個關於愛、浪漫以及花、巧克力、賀卡的節日。
在情人節當天，情侶們會有許多慶祝活動，向另一半表達愛意。交換禮物是最為常見的。近些年，雖然我國已經有了七夕情人節，但是2月14情人節依然比以前盛行。此外，也有很多人選擇在這一天、求婚或結婚。簡單來說，這是一個愛的節日。
愛神丘位元是情人節最著名的象徵，也一直被人們喻為愛情的象徵，相傳他是一個頑皮的、身上長著翅膀的小神，他的箭一旦插入青年男女的心上，便會使他們
深深相愛。在古希臘神話中，他是愛與美的女神(阿芙羅狄忒)Aphrodite與戰神(阿瑞斯)Ares的小兒子Eros。在羅馬神話中，他叫丘位元
(Cupid)，他的母親是維納斯(即阿芙羅狄忒)。單身的你，情人節來拜拜愛神，說不定就會被丘位元幸福的射上一箭哦。
Cupid is the most famous of Valentine symbols and everybody knows
that boy armed with bow and arrows, and piercing hearts . He is known as
a mischievous, winged child armed with bow and arrows. The arrows
signify desires and emotions of love, and Cupid aims those arrows at
Gods and Humans, causing them to fall deeply in love. Cupid has always
played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. In ancient Greece
he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love
and beauty. To the Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother was Venus.
丘位元是情人節最著名的象徵。這個帶著弓箭的小男孩人盡皆知，被箭射穿的心亦是如此。相傳他是一個頑皮、身上長著翅膀的小男孩。箭象徵著愛的慾望與激
情，丘位元的箭不僅對著神也對著凡人，被射中者便會陷入愛河。丘位元一直扮演者慶祝愛與愛人的角色。在古希臘神話中，他被稱作厄洛斯，是愛與美之神阿佛洛
狄忒的小兒子。在古羅馬神話中，他就叫做丘位元，其母是維納斯。
There is a very interesting story about Cupid and His mortal Bride
Psyche in Roman mythology. Venus was jealous of the beauty of Psyche,
and ordered Cupid to punish the mortal. But instead, Cupid fell deeply
in love with her. He took her as his wife, but as a mortal she was
forbidden to look at him.
在古羅馬神話中，有一個關於丘位元和他的凡人新娘普賽克的有趣故事。維納斯因為嫉妒普賽克的美貌，便命令前去施加懲罰。但是，丘位元確深深愛上了普賽克，並娶她為妻。但是作為凡人，普賽克不可以看丘位元的臉。
Psyche was happy until her sisters persuaded her to look at Cupid. as
soon as Psyche looked at Cupid, Cupid punished her by leaving her.
Their lovely castle and gardens vanished too. Psyche found herself alone
in an open field with no signs of other beings or Cupid. As she
wandered trying to find her love, she came upon the temple of Venus.
Wishing to destroy her, the goddess of love gave Psyche a series of
tasks, each harder and more dangerous then the last.
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