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The Origin of Valentine's Day in the West
Valentine's Day (English: Valentine's Day), also known as Saint Valentine's Day, falls on February 14 every year and is one of the traditional festivals in the West. Couples give each other chocolates, greeting cards and flowers on this day to express their love or friendship. This festival was originally to commemorate Warren Ty, two martyrs in the early Christian church.

origin

Statement 1: In the 3rd century AD, Emperor Claudius II of the Roman Empire renounced all marriage promises in the capital Rome. At that time, it was for the sake of war that more carefree men could go to war. A priest named Sanktus Valentinus did not follow this will and continued to hold church weddings for young people who loved each other. After the incident was reported, Father Valentin was first flogged, then stoned, and finally hanged on February 14, AD 270. 14 century later, people began to commemorate this day. Nowadays, the Chinese translation of "Valentine's Day" is called Valentine's Day in western countries to commemorate the priest who died for his lover.

Statement 2: It is said that Valentine was one of the earliest Christians. Being a Christian at that time meant danger and death. In order to cover other martyrs, Valentane was taken to prison. There, he cured the blind eye of the warden's daughter. When the tyrant heard the miracle, he was so frightened that he beheaded Valentane. According to legend, on the morning of the execution, Valentane wrote an affectionate farewell letter to the warden's daughter, which was signed: From your lover. On the same day, the blind girl planted an apricot tree with red flowers in front of his grave to express her feelings. This day is February 14. Since then, Christianity has designated February 14 as Valentine's Day.

Statement 3: In ancient Rome, February 14 was a festival to pay tribute to Jonah. Jonah is the queen of the Roman gods, and the Romans regard her as the goddess of women and marriage at the same time. The following February 15 is called Lupsala Festival, which is a festival to pay tribute to other gods under the rule of Jonah.

In ancient Rome, the lives of young people and girls were strictly separated. However, on Lupsala Festival, boys can choose the name of the girl they love and carve it on a vase. In this way, during the festival, young people can dance with the girl of their choice to celebrate the festival. If the selected girls are interested in boys, they can always pair up and eventually they will fall in love and get married in church. For this reason, later generations designated February 14 every year as Valentine's Day.

Statement 4: It originated from the festival of faun in ancient Rome.

It is said that the Christian church celebrated this day in order to christianize the festival of faun in ancient Rome (celebrated on February 15 every year to protect the productivity of people, fields and livestock).

Among the gods worshipped by the Romans, the shepherd is in charge of the protection of shepherds and sheep. Every year in mid-February, the Romans hold a grand ceremony to celebrate the festival of faun.

Compared with now, the calendar at that time was a little later, so the festival of faun was actually a celebration of the coming spring. Some people also say that this festival is to celebrate and bless Yunus, who is similar to the foot of sheep and the horn pot in charge of animal husbandry and agriculture in ancient Greece.

With the expansion of Roman power in Europe, the custom of faun festival was brought to France and Britain. One of people's favorite holiday activities is similar to lottery. The names of young women are put in the box, and then young men come forward to draw lots. A pair of drawn men and women become lovers for a year or more.

The rise of Christianity makes people's custom of commemorating gods gradually indifferent. The priests didn't want people to give up the joy of this festival, so they changed the festival of faun to Valentine's Day and postponed it to February 14. In this way, the legend about the Valentine brothers and the ancient festivals are naturally combined. This festival is the most popular festival in medieval England. After the names of unmarried men and women are drawn, they will exchange gifts with each other, and women will become lovers of men within this year. A man's sleeve will be embroidered with a woman's name, so it is his sacred duty to take care of and protect women.

The origin of the name of Valentine's Day

Brewer's Dictionary of Proverbs and Fables wrote: "Valentinus was a Roman priest who was imprisoned for helping persecuted Christians. He later converted to Christianity ... and was finally beaten to death, and died on February 14 ... "The relationship between the ancient custom of celebrating Valentine's Day and valentina is purely coincidental. In fact, this festival is probably related to the faun festival in ancient Rome or the mating season of birds. Valentine's Day is characterized by lovers giving gifts to each other. Today, people like to express their feelings with Valentine's Day cards. Valentine's day cards are usually painted with Cupid, a heart shot by an arrow and so on. "

Legend of Valentine's Day

According to legend, Saint Valentine, a young Christian missionary in ancient Rome, ventured to spread Christianity, was arrested and imprisoned, touched the old jailer and his blind daughter, and was taken good care of by them. Before his execution, St. Valentine wrote a letter to the girl, showing his deep affection for her. On the day of his execution, the blind girl planted an apricot tree with red flowers in front of his grave to express her feelings. This day is February 14. Now, on Valentine's Day, many young men will make postcards of courting St. Valentine into exquisite handicrafts and cut them into butterflies and flowers to show their sincerity and determination. Girls put laurel leaves on pillows at night, hoping to dream of their lovers. Usually on Valentine's Day, a red rose is given to express the feelings between lovers. A half-opened red rose is the best gift for a girl on Valentine's Day, and the girl returns a box of heart-shaped chocolates as a gift.

Regarding the relationship between Cupid and Valentine's Day, the dictionary above says: "Cupid (Latin for desire and love) is equivalent to eros, the Greek god of love. He is usually represented by a lovely little boy with two wings on his back, covering his eyes with cloth and holding a bow and arrow. "

The World Book Encyclopedia provides further information that there are actually different opinions about the origin of Valentine's Day. The encyclopedia points out: "It is said that during the year 200 AD, the Roman emperor Claudius II prohibited young men from getting married. He thinks unmarried men can be better soldiers. A priest named Valenti disobeyed the emperor's orders and secretly married a young man. ..... It is rumored that Warren Tai was executed on February 14, 269 AD. According to the Encyclopedia of Catholicism, in 496 AD, Pope Santa Clara I abolished the Faun Festival at the end of the fifth century AD and designated February 14 as Valentinus Day. " This festival is now popular in the form of "Valentine's Day".

After14th century, people began to commemorate this day. Now, the Chinese translation of "Valentine's Day" is called Valentine's Day to commemorate him.

No matter what the real origin of Valentine's Day is, this custom originates from ancient beliefs and is named after the "saints" in Christian countries.