黄庆芬TheOriginofStValentinesDay.docVIP

PAGE PAGE 2 The Origin of St Valentine’ s Day 南宁一中 黄庆芬 February 14th is a day full of love. In western countries, whether young people in deep love or old couples in their declining years will feel attentively what love brings to them in the past, at present or in the future. Nowadays, St Valentine’s Day has been celebrated by common people in China, especially among the young generation. How was this festival formed? The answer is rooted in some western legends. There are different versions about the origin of St Valentine’s Day. Version 1 In 300 AD, the Roman emperor Claudius II declared in the capital city Rome that all marital commitments should be abolished due to the war, which would encourage the carefree men to go to the battlefield. However, a priest called Sanctus Valentinus didn’t obey the order but continued to marry young couples in the church. When this was denounced, the priest was first whipped and then stricken by heavy big stones. At last he was hanged from a gallows on February 14th, 270 AD. After the 14th century, people began to honor this day. Now, February 14th, which is translated into “ Lover’s Day” in Chinese, is called Valentine’s Day in western countries in honor of the priest who sacrificed for marrying couples. Version 2 It is said that Valentine was the earliest Christian. At that time being a Christian meant danger and death. In order to protect other martyrs from being persecuted, Valentine was caught and thrown into jail. In the jail, Valentine cured the daughter of warden’s daughter of her blind eyes. When the tyrant of the time head this miracle, he was so afraid that he decided to behead Valentine in public. As the legend says, on the morning of beheading day, Valentine wrote a letter full of everlasting love to the girl singed with “ From your Valentine”. On the same day, the girl planted an apricot tree with red blossoms in front of Valentine’s grave to place her true love and her sadness on. The day when th Valentine was