情人节起源

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine’s Day— and its patron saint— is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

每年二月份，全国的情人之间都以圣.瓦伦丁之名互赠糖果，鲜花和礼物。但这个神秘的圣人究竟是谁？我们为什么要庆祝这个节日？情人节的历史和守护神一直都很神秘，让人求索不得。但是长久以来，我们知道二月一直是个浪漫的月份。我们现在所知的情人节同时有着基督教传统和古罗马传统的影子。那么，圣.瓦伦丁是谁？他和这一古老的节日有何关联？

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor ClaudiusⅡ decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young man—his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriage for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

有一种说法，瓦伦丁是三世纪罗马时期的一位牧师。当时罗马皇帝克劳迪亚斯二世认为单身男子比已有家室的男子更加骁勇善战，所以他下令成年未婚男子—国家未来潜在的士兵，如果结婚就算违法。瓦伦丁意识到该法令的不公平，违抗了克劳迪亚斯的命令，继续秘密为年轻情侣们主持婚礼。后来克劳迪亚斯发现了，便下令将瓦伦丁处死。

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

还有一些说法认为，瓦伦丁可能因为帮助基督教徒逃离罗马监狱的残酷暴行而被杀害。

According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl—who may have been his jailor’s daughter— who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.

另一种说法就是，瓦伦丁实际上是第一个发送“瓦伦丁”（情人）问候的人。在入狱期间，人们认为他爱上了一位年轻的女孩—她可能是狱长的女儿，也曾在瓦伦丁囚禁期间看望过他。在他临死前，他给那个女孩写了一封信，署名是“你的瓦伦丁”，该署名延用至今。

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It’s no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

尽管瓦伦丁传说背后的真实性尚无法得到证实，扑朔迷离，但是这些传说无不将瓦伦丁塑造成了一个悲天悯人，英勇无畏的人物，更重要的是，他充满了浪漫情怀。所以，到了中世纪的时候，瓦伦丁已经成为在英法两国最受爱戴的圣徒了。

In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready- made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contribute to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings.

在英国，情人节在十七世纪开始盛行，获得人们的追捧。到了十八世纪中叶，社会各个阶层中朋友和情侣之间互相赠送小礼物和手写的信笺，以表达爱意。到了十八世纪末期，随着印刷技术的发展，印刷卡片逐步取代手写的祝福，在难以直抒心意的年代，现成的卡片方便了人们表达自己的感情，低廉的邮费也使得人们之间互赠问候变得更加普遍。