用英文介紹情人節

㈠ 關於情人節英文介紹

Valentine's Day, also known as St. Valentine's Day or St. Valentine's Day, is one of the traditional festivals in the West.
On this day, men and women send chocolate, greeting cards and roses to each other to express their love or friendship. It has become a favorite festival for young people in Europe and America.
Maybe there are as many Valentines in the world as there are interpretations of the origins of Valentine's Day.

情人節，又叫聖瓦倫丁節或聖華倫泰節，即每年的2月14 日，是西方的傳統節日之一。男女在這一天互送巧克力、 賀卡和玫瑰花，用以表達愛意或友好，現已成為歐美各國青年人喜愛的節日。大概這世上有多少情人就有多少關於情人節來歷的詮釋吧。

㈡ 情人節英文簡介如題 謝謝了

Used to send female 2.14 male, 3.14 for boys return Do not pay attention to now, the couple were each sent an IM conversation between 12 year Valentine's Day I do not know is because of people's loyalty to the faith of love, or on the speculation business, now in year, on the 14th of each month, together with the traditional St Valentine's Day, has 12 different Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day Diary (diary day) January 14. On this day, couples will love each other enough for a full year record of violations of the diaries, as a symbol of the two will work together through the coming year, leaving more memory better. And the single girls in the beginning of the new year, enjoy themselves and the people have expressed plans to write in their diaries, in the hearts of sowing the seeds of love. White Day (White Day) March 14 is White Day. Everyone should be very familiar with, the popular explanation is that if boys and 2.14 girls received presents, at one month after it should have a reply to the White Day. White popular in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other regions is that we are aware of the continuation of the Western Valentine's Day is also the first "non-mainstream" Valentine's Day, but also other "non-mainstream," the pilot of Valentine's Day. In fact, the birth of White Day is a fully-fledged "commercial plot." White Day first born in 1977, from Japan, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, dessert (fruit) manufacturers "Wansheng Village Church" initiated in order to preach the party received a token in return should give each other sweets as a means of promotion , the first holiday known as the "free candy day" (Day AverageャンをるDay gifts). Since 1980, because of the sugar used in candy is white, so as "White Day." Shortly afterwards, a chocolate manufacturers find that they can make a profit on this holiday and, therefore, begin the promotion of white chocolate, and now, in this day in return, in addition to candy and white chocolate, but also including other types of gifts. At present, about Valentine's Day and White Day, the first man in the end is a gift or gifts to the woman is no longer an open question, the focus of this is the holiday so that both men and women love the yuan can have a mind to play with the timing of self-expression, the corresponding There are, of course, can also take the opportunity to make a profit. Black Valentine's Day (Black Day) 惡搞like, like April 14, Valentine's Day is black. First name probably will be able to listen to know the meaning of a fraction with "光棍節" almost, it is said that this section comes from Korea. It seems that this Valentine's Day is not a過情人節from the crowd怨念: Although not the world can ever lovers, and even once owned, or曠男怨女Who can not be isolated過情人節? "Black Valentine's Day" is the single people who belong to lovers of the day. Neither the previous two months, they may receive a small gift sweet, no one can send chocolates, but on April 14 that day, everybody together, encourage each other, come on up, turn grief into strength, but also look terrific on the surface very Cheers to the elimination of the lonely sense of languishing. Is to say, but they can also single happy day, people make their own holidays to live in a world full of black, wearing black suits, black hats, black shoes, made of noodles to eat black beans , do not add a cup of coffee creamer, coffee and enjoy the bitter flavor, so that a temporary hell with love! Valentine's Day Yellow Rose (Yellow and Rose Day) May 14 is Valentine's Day, if you have to 5 months, do you or no progress has been made, on this day wearing a yellow shirt or yellow suit, yellow curry rice to eat, everyone is told: "I am still available (I still single)! "imply the best. Spring fills the air with warmth, will be wearing a yellow body, is quite consistent with the seasonal atmosphere. Roses in May is the season of germination, fit out and pleasant weather, many couples have chosen this day to the outdoor相攜Ta-Qing, May 14 so there is also "Rose Valentine's Day" was. Valentine's Day at the Rose is also a day for example, give red roses is love talk; send white roses that are still hesitant outstanding; if sent a bouquet of yellow roses, that is to say, see you cough. Valentine's Day kiss (Kiss Day) June 14 of course, can not escape. Valentine's Day kiss, this is a lovers belong to the important holiday in pairs, at this day, couples are no longer shy, you can openly kiss the scale used to express the depth of each other's love. Of course,花前月下, such as a romantic candlelight dinner atmosphere, a kiss Oh De Ding Qing but helpful! In this day, all over the world will have different kinds of "kissing contest" was held. Valentine's Day Silver (Silver Day) And July 14 is a silver Valentine's Day is to go home with your loved one give How I Met Your Mother Know, or introce you to the other by the well respected elders opportunities. Of course, this day of all expenses, by the "elders cute" foot the bill, but you'd better make sure that the elders are very familiar with this holiday. Valentine's Day is also a couple of silver each other silver gifts, jewelry day.銀戒traditional practices are engaged, so you have to buy this one right, to wear at the hands of the witness as a sweet mood. Green Valentine's Day (Green Day) August 14, called Green Valentine's Day, this is not what to environmental protection, green Valentine's Day of course, thick forests and not from the relationship. Hot summer afternoon, and you may wish to make a trip to the other half of the forest cool and refreshing trip to enjoy the outdoor nature, healthy and happy through the day. Music Valentine's Day Valentine's Day with the photograph (Music Day & Photo Day) The name of the super-long Valentine's Day will be September 14 at that day. Music Valentine's Day is the day to organize large-scale social activities輕歌曼舞days, your sweetheart will also introce to friends, colleagues recognize a good opportunity. And single family, but also to take this opportunity to see if there is no activity at the scene of the object of their choice. Many couples enjoy in this day of clear blue sky in this photo, so September 14 is also known as the "Valentine's Day Photos." Valentine's Day wine (Wine Day) October 14, the day輕啜wine lovers to celebrate the autumn poetic. Usually choose to小兩口romantic and unique restaurant for dinner, and then talk to each other on the future planning, as well as topics such as the common goal. Orange Film Festival and the lovers on Valentine's Day (Orange Day Movie Day) November 14, Valentine's Day movie that day, the couple can not even get two movies, perhaps look at an exciting action film vent stress, and then moving back a piece of romantic love each other拭淚water. After reading the two also added water, and a glass of orange juice full health bar! Single person that day to a cup of orange juice, of course, happy to drink a glass or two of the沒人管also. Fruit juice appears to be to want to come out of the holiday. Embrace Valentine's Day (Hug Day) December 14, the lover you want and how long it can hold in the open embrace of the occasion, declared to the world the love you both, and let the cold winter has become particularly warm. Especially those who have been sweet to celebrate February 14 Valentine's Day-ting Warren couple, to the end of the year can still embraced, also witnessed two complex as ever.

㈢ 韓國的黑色情人節的英文簡介。（100詞左右）

「黑色情人節」，屬於單身貴族們的情人日。在前兩個月他們或許既沒收到甜蜜小禮物，也沒人可以送巧克力，但4月14日這天，大家共聚一堂，彼此鼓勵、加油打氣，化悲憤為力量，倒也熱熱鬧鬧十分開懷，藉此消除形單影只的落寞感。
英文："Black
valentine's
day",
belong
to
the
lone
noble
the
valentine's
day.
In
the
first
two
months
maybe
they
got
neither
the
sweet
small
gifts,
didn't
also
can
send
a
chocolate,
but
the
April
14
day,
everybody
curtailing,
encourage
each
other,
cheer,
transform
his
grievance
into
power,
pour
also
lively
very
laugh,
thereby
eliminating
there
lies
the
lonely
feeling.

㈣ 介紹幾個西方傳統節日用 英文

1、情人節

Valentine's Day, also known as St. Valentine's Day or St. Valentine's Day, dates on February 14 of the Gregorian calendar, is one of the traditional festivals in Western countries, which originated from Christianity.

Now it has become a famous romantic festival all over the world, but people in different countries express their love in different ways.

情人節，又稱聖瓦倫丁節或聖華倫泰節，日期在每年公歷的2月14日，是西方國家的傳統節日之一，起源於基督教。

如今已經成為全世界著名的浪漫節日，但是不同國家的人們表達愛意的方式卻各不相同。

2、萬聖節

Halloween, also known as All Saints'Day, is a traditional Western Festival on November 1, and October 31, the eve of Halloween, is the most lively time of the festival.

Halloween Eve is often translated into Halloween in Chinese.

萬聖節又叫諸聖節，在每年的11月1日，是西方的傳統節日；而萬聖節前夜的10月31日是這個節日最熱鬧的時刻。

在中文裡，常常把萬聖節前夜訛譯為萬聖節。

3、聖誕節

Christmas, also known as Christmas, is translated as "Christ Mass", which originated from the Lunar New Year celebration in ancient Rome and has nothing to do with Christianity.

After the popularity of Christianity in the Roman Empire, the Holy See drifted this folk festival into the Christian system to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

But it is not Jesus'birthday on Christmas Day, because the Bible does not record when Jesus was born, nor does it mention such a festival, which is the result of Christianity's absorption of ancient Roman mythology.

聖誕節又稱耶誕節，譯名為「基督彌撒」，它源自古羅馬人迎接新年的農神節，與基督教本無關系。

在基督教盛行羅馬帝國後，教廷隨波逐流地將這種民俗節日納入基督教體系，同時以慶祝耶穌的降生。

但在聖誕節這天不是耶穌的生辰，因為《聖經》未有記載耶穌具體生於哪天，同樣沒提到過有此種節日，是基督教吸收了古羅馬神話的結果。

4、復活節

Easter is an important festival in the West. It falls on the first Sunday after the full moon in the spring equinox every year.

Christians believe that Easter symbolizes rebirth and hope in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after he was crucified between 30 and 33 A.D.

復活節是一個西方的重要節日，在每年春分月圓之後第一個星期日。

基督徒認為，復活節象徵著重生與希望，為紀念耶穌基督於公元30到33年之間被釘死在十字架之後第三天復活的日子。

5、感恩節

Thanksgiving Day, a traditional Western holiday, is a festival originally created by the American people. It is also a festival for American family reunion.

At the beginning, there was no fixed date for Thanksgiving, which was decided temporarily by the states of the United States. Until 1863, after the independence of the United States, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

In 1941, the United States Congress officially designated the fourth Thursday in November as "Thanksgiving Day". Thanksgiving holidays usually last from Thursday to Sunday.

感恩節，西方傳統節日，是美國人民獨創的一個節日，也是美國人合家歡聚的節日。

初時感恩節沒有固定日期，由美國各州臨時決定。直到美國獨立後的1863年，林肯總統宣布感恩節為全國性節日。

1941年，美國國會正式將每年11月第四個星期四定為「感恩節」。感恩節假期一般會從星期四持續到星期天。

㈤ 求簡短的情人節英文介紹。明天要上台講了

Valentine's Day is also called the St. Valentine's day andValentine's day, which is February 14th of each year, is one of the western traditional festivals. This is about the love, romance and flowers, chocolate, greeting cards,holiday men and women in this day to send each other gifts to express love or friendship. Europe and the United States has become the favorite holiday of young people,other countries have started to pop. In Chinese,traditional festivals of July 7th day is also the girlsattention day, therefore is called Chinese Valentine's day. Due to the common expression of human feelings,to explore the "Valentine's day have all over the world".
望採納（≧∇≦）

㈥ 情人節英文簡介

February 14th is a complicated but interesting holiday. First of all, Valentine's Day is not a holiday from work. No one gets a day off[1]. On Valentine's Day people usually send romantic cards to someone they love or want to be loved by. The cards are called "valentines". They are very colourful, often decorated with hearts, flowers or birds, and have humorous or sentimental verses printed inside. The basic message of the verse is always "Be My Valentine", "Be My Sweet Heart" or "Lover". A valentine is anonymous, or sometimes signed "Guess who". The person receiving it has to guess who sent it. This can lead to interesting speculation. And that's half the fun of valentines.
The affectionate message might be carried by a heart - shaped box of chocolate candies, or by a bouquet of flowers tied with red ribbon. But in whatever form, the message is the same - "Will you be my valentine?"
One of the symbols of St. Valentine's Day is the Roman god of Love, called Cupid. Cupid is often printed on the card, who is winged infant without wearing anything, poised to shoot his arrow into a heart. He would shoot an arrow of love into a person's heart to make the person fall in love[2] immedia-tely, maybe with the first person to come along. Sometimes one arrow would go through[3] two hearts, holding them together. So on February 14th not only do we have picture of the Christian St. Valentine but we also have pictures of the non-Christian Cupid, the Roman god of Love.
But it is from the Christians that we get the stories about Valen-tine's Day that most people have come to believe[4]. One story is about a Christian man whose name sounded something like "Valentine." He lived around 250 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius refused to allow any Roman soldiers to get married for any reason whatsoever. Christian couples came to Valentine to be married. So Valentine would marry them in a Christian way. He was discovered and put in prison by the Emperor.One tradition says that he wrote notes to his friends by marking on leaves and then throwing them out the window of his prison. And the leaves were shaped like a heart.
二月十四日是一個復雜而又有趣的節日。首先，情人節不是一個休假日。沒人放假。在情人節這一天，人們愛誰或想得到誰的愛，就可給那個人寄去充滿浪漫情趣的卡片。這種卡片叫"情人卡"。情人卡色彩鮮艷，常裝飾有心、花或鳥，裡面還印有幽默或感傷性的詩句。這些詩句傳遞的基本信息總是"做我的情人吧"、"做我甜蜜的心上人吧"、"情人"。 情人卡是不署名的，有時也可簽上"猜是誰"。收到卡片的人要猜是誰寄的。這樣可產生有趣的推測，這也正是情人卡的一些樂趣。
你可以用一個心臟形狀的盒子，裡面放上巧克力糖，來傳遞愛的信息，也可用綵帶紮上一束鮮花來傳遞。不管用什麼方式，都是一樣的--"你願做我的情人嗎？"
情人節的標志之一是羅馬愛神--丘比特。丘比特經常被印在卡片上，他是一個赤身裸體、長有翅膀的嬰兒，手裡拿著箭，擺出一副要射心的姿勢。他把愛之箭射中一個人的心，這個人會很快墜入愛河，可能是和他（她）第一個見到的人。有時候，一隻箭會射中兩顆心，把它們穿在一起。所以在二月十四日，我們不僅有基督的"聖·瓦倫登"的畫像，還有非基督的羅馬愛神丘比特的畫像。
大多數人相信的情人節的故事來源於基督教。其中有個故事提到，有一個基督徒的名字聽起來象"瓦倫登"。他大約生活在公元前250年。那時羅馬皇帝克勞迪烏斯禁止羅馬士兵以任何借口結婚。信奉基督教的夫婦就去找"瓦倫登"主持結婚。"瓦倫登"以基督教方式為他們秘密舉行婚禮後來被羅馬皇帝發現送進監獄。傳說他在葉子上做標記給他朋友傳遞信息，然後把葉子扔出監獄的窗外。這些葉子的形狀是心形的

㈦ 有關情人節的英文作文，初三水平即可，100來詞，急！

There
are
varying
opinions
as
to
the
origin
of
Valentine's
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.
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。
Legend
also
says
that
St.
Valentine
left
a
farewell
note
for
the
jailer's
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
ring
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.
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。

㈧ 西方情人節由來英文介紹三篇

1. Origins of Valentine's Day: Multiple theories abound regarding the origin of Valentine's Day. Some historians attribute it to Saint Valentine, a Roman martyred for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. He was executed on February 14, AD 269, the same day that was dedicated to love lotteries.
Legend also tells of Saint Valentine leaving a farewell note for the daughter of the jailer, with whom he had formed a friendship, signing it "From Your Valentine".
Other aspects of the story suggest that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple ring the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine imprisoned for defying him. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor Saint Valentine.
Graally, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and Saint Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The day was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.
2. Cupid, the Symbol of Love: Cupid is the most renowned symbol of Valentine's Day and is universally recognized as the embodiment of love. He is depicted as a mischievous, winged child armed with a bow and arrows. The arrows signify the 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 Romans, he was Cupid, and his mother was Venus.
3. Valentine's Day: Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 each year. It is observed in many countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most. After New Year's Day, it is the most celebrated holiday globally. It is a holiday for lovers or couples.
This is a festival of love and romance, as well as flowers, chocolates, and greeting cards. On this day, there are many activities for couples to celebrate, showing their love for one another. Gift exchange is the most common practice. In recent years, February 14 has become increasingly popular, although there is another Valentine's Day in China. Moreover, many choose this day to propose marriage or get married. In summary, it is a day of love.

㈨ 用英文介紹情人節，大約100--200單詞左右，謝謝。

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions.The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It was deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-proced greeting cards.

㈩ 情人節的來歷(要中英文結合的)

情人節，又叫聖瓦倫丁節或聖華倫泰節（St. Valentine's Day），即每年的2月14日，是西方的傳統節日之一。男女在這一天互送巧克力、賀卡和花，用以表達愛意或友好。

關於情人節的起源，大致有2種不同說法：

說法一：

公元3世紀，羅馬帝國皇帝克勞迪烏斯二世在首都羅馬宣布廢棄所有的婚姻承諾，當時是出於戰爭的考慮，使更多無所牽掛的男人可以走上爭戰的疆場。一名叫瓦侖廷（Sanctus Valentinus）的神父沒有遵照這個旨意而繼續為相愛的年輕人舉行教堂婚禮。事情被告發後，瓦侖廷神父先是被鞭打，然後被石頭擲打，最後在公元270年2月14日這天被送上了絞架被絞死。14世紀以後，人們就開始紀念這個日子。現在，中文譯為「情人節」的這個日子，在西方國家裡就被稱為Valentine's Day，用以紀念那位為情人做主而犧牲的神父。

與此相關的其他傳說，包括這位神父幫助天主教徒從羅馬監獄里逃脫而被處死。

在這個神父在監獄里時，據說他送出了第一個「情人節」祝福。據說他愛上了曾來監獄看望他，獄長失明的女兒亞斯得莉斯，並奇跡地治好了她的眼睛，使之重見光明。在他臨刑前，給女孩一封信，署名「from your Valentine」（這個表達現在還在使用）。盡管這些傳說不真切，但是卻表達了他的富有同情心、英雄氣概、以及最重要的浪漫主義的人格。

說法二：

來源於古羅馬的牧神節（Lupercalia Festival）

這個說法是基督教會慶祝這一天是為了把古羅馬的牧神節（每年的2月15日慶祝，為了保佑人、田、牲畜的生產力）基督教化。在古羅馬，2月春天的開始，被認為是純潔的。按照一定的儀式打掃房屋，然後把鹽水和一種小麥灑遍房間。

牧神節，是為了慶祝羅馬的農神Faunus 和羅馬的奠基人Romulus和Remus。這個節日開始時，Luperci的成員（也就是羅馬祭司的一種）會聚集在一個神聖的山洞裡。這個山洞被認為是還是嬰兒的Romulus和Remus待過的地方。在這個洞里，他們由一頭母狼，lupa，照料。祭司們會犧牲一頭羊，為了生殖；一隻狗，為了純潔。

然後男孩子會把羊的皮撕成小條，蘸上神聖的血後，跑到街上用它輕輕的抽打女人和田裡的莊稼。羅馬的女人不僅不會害怕，反而會樂意被羊皮條接觸，因為據說這樣她們在這一年裡就會生殖力旺盛。後來，根據傳說，這個城市所有的女人會把自己的名字放到一個花瓶里。單身漢們會從裡面選一個。這樣這一年裡，他們就是一對。通常他們會結婚。

教皇在大約公元498年宣布2月14日是情人節。羅馬人的這種婚配方式被基督教徒認為是不合法的。中世紀時，在英國和法國，通常認為2月14日是鳥交配的季節。因此就把此日增加了一個內容，那就是它應該是一個浪漫的日子。最早的情人節禮物是奧爾良的公爵，查理斯在倫敦塔獄中寫給他妻子的詩。因為他在Agincourt戰役中被俘虜了。現在這個寫於1415年的祝福被收藏在倫敦的大英博物館。幾年以後，英皇亨利五世雇John Lydgate寫了一首曲子給Catherine of Valois作為情人節禮物。
Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is on February 14. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine's cards or candy. It is very common to present flowers on Valentine's Day. The holiday is named after two men, both Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-proced greeting cards. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.[1]

In the United States, the marketing of Valentine's Day has tagged it as a "Hallmark holiday." A recent trend has been to refer to February 14 as Singles Awareness Day.
At least three early Christian Roman martyrs named Valentinus are known (see Saint Valentine for more details). In the two most prominent Valentinus traditions, represented by late fictionalized acta that were both included in Bede, the martyrs were venerated on the same day, February 14, though the years, as they represent two traditions, varied according to the source.[2] An overview of attested traditions relevant to the holiday is presented below, with the legends about Valentine himself discussed in the end.

[edit] February fertility festivals
It has been hypothesised [specify][citation needed] that Graeco-Roman holidays devoted to fertility and love might be related to St Valentine's Day, since there is some correspondence between the time when they were celebrated.

On the ancient Athenian calendar, the period between mid-January and mid-February was the month of Gamelion, dedicated to the sacred marriage of Zeus and Hera.

In Ancient Rome, February 15 was Lupercalia. Plutarch wrote:

Lupercalia, of which many write that it was anciently celebrated by shepherds, and has also some connection with the Arcadian Lycaea. At this time many of the noble youths and of the magistrates run up and down through the city naked, for sport and laughter striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. And many women of rank also purposely get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregnant will thus be helped in delivery, and the barren to pregnancy.[5]

The word Lupercalia comes from lupus, or wolf, so the holiday may be connected with the legendary wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus. Priests of this cult, luperci would travel to the lupercal, the cave where the she-wolf who reared Romulus and Remus allegedly lived, and sacrifice animals (two goats and a dog). The blood would then be scattered in the streets, to bring fertility and keep the wolves away from the fields. [6] Lupercalia was a festival local to the city of Rome. The more general Festival of Juno Februa, meaning "Juno the purifier "or "the chaste Juno," was celebrated on February 13-14. Pope Gelasius I (492-496) abolished Lupercalia. Some historians [specify][citation needed] argue that Candlemas (then held on February 14, later moved to February 2) was promoted as its replacement, but this feast was already being celebrated in Jerusalem by AD 381. The pope also declared in 496 that the feast of St. Valentine would be on February 14.

[edit] Chaucer's love birds

A portrait of English poet Geoffrey Chaucer by Thomas Hoccleve (1412). The earliest known link between Valentine's Day and romance is found in Chaucer's poetry.The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer:[3]

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese [choose] his make [mate].
This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia[7]. A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381.[8] (When they were married eight months later, he was 13 or 14. She was 14.)

On the liturgical calendar, May 2 is the saints' day for Valentine of Genoa. This St. Valentine was an early bishop of Genoa who died around AD 307.[9][10] Readers incorrectly assumed that Chaucer was referring to February 14 as Valentine's Day. However, mid-February is an unlikely time for birds to be mating in England.[4]

Chaucer's Parliament of Foules is generally set in a supposed context of an old tradition, but in fact there was no such tradition before Chaucer. The speculative explanation of sentimental customs, posing as historical fact, had their origins among eighteenth-century antiquaries, notably Alban Butler, the author of Butler's Lives of Saints, and have been perpetuated even by respectable modern scholars. Most notably, "the idea that Valentin'e Day customed perpetuated those of the Roman Lupercalia has been accepted uncritically and repeated, in various forms, up to the present"[5]

[edit] Medieval and modern times

Swedish calendar showing St Valentine's Day, February 14, 1712Using the language of the law courts for the rituals of courtly love, a "High Court of Love" was established in Paris on Valentine's Day in 1400. The court dealt with love contracts, betrayals, and violence against women. Judges were selected by women on the basis of a poetry reading.[11][12]

The earliest surviving valentine is a fifteenth-century rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his "valentined" wife, which commences.

Je suis desja d'amour tanné
Ma tres doulce Valentinée… (Charles d'Orléans, Rondeau VI, lines 1–2)

At the time, the ke was being held in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt, 1415.[6]

Valentine's Day is mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600-01): "Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's Day."

In 1836, relics of St. Valentine of Rome were donated by Pope Gregory XVI to the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. In the 1960s, the church was renovated and relics restored to prominence.[13]

In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feastday of Saint Valentine on 14 February was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on 14 February."[7] The feast day is still celebrated in Balzan and in Malta where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Vatican II calendar.

Valentine's Day postcard, circa 1910
Tree decorated for Valentine's DayValentine's Day was probably imported into North America in the 19th century by British settlers. In the United States, the first mass-proced valentines of embossed paper lace were proced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father operated a large book and stationery store, and she took her inspiration from an English valentine she had received. Since 2001, the Greeting Card Association has been giving an annual "Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary."

In the second half of the twentieth century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts in the United States, usually from a man to a woman. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates. In the 1980s, the diamond instry began to promote Valentine's Day as an occasion for giving jewelry.

The day has come to be associated with a generic platonic greeting of "Happy Valentine's Day."

In some North American elementary schools, students are asked to give a Valentine card or small gift to everyone in the class. The greeting cards of these students often mention what they appreciate about each other.

[edit] The evolving legend
The Early Medieval acta of either Saint Valentine were excerpted by Bede and briefly expounded in Legenda Aurea,[8] According to that version, St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.

Legenda Aurea still providing no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail. On the evening before Valentine was to be executed, he wrote the first "valentine" himself, addressed to a young girl variously identified as his beloved,[9] as the jailer's daughter whom he had befriended and healed,[10] or both.[11] It was a note that read "From your Valentine."[9]

In another apparently modern embellishment[citation needed], while Valentine was imprisoned, people would leave him little notes, folded up and hidden in cracks in the rocks around his cell. He would find them and offer prayers for them.