Introduction to traditional Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day, also known as St. Valentine's Day or St. Valentine's Day, is held on February 14th every year. It is one of the traditional festivals in the West. Men and women send chocolates, greeting cards and flowers to each other on this day to express love or friendship. It has now become a favorite holiday for young people in Europe and the United States. There are probably as many interpretations of the origin of Valentine's Day as there are lovers in the world. Just like the Chinese people now celebrate Christmas with almost fanatical enthusiasm, Valentine's Day has quietly penetrated into the minds of countless young people and has become another important holiday in addition to traditional Chinese festivals.
In our country, on the night of the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the weather is warm and the vegetation is fragrant. This is commonly known as the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day). Some people also call it the "Qiao Qiao Festival" or "Daughter's Day" , this is the most romantic festival among traditional Chinese festivals, and it is also the day that girls paid most attention to in the past. They faced the bright moon in the sky, placed seasonal fruits and fruits, and worshiped to the sky, begging the goddess in the sky to give them intelligent hearts and dexterous hands, and also to beg for a happy marriage.
The origin of Valentine's Day
Legend 1
In the ancient Roman period, February 14th was a festival set up to show respect for Joanna. Joanna was the queen of the Roman gods, and the Romans also worshiped her as the goddess of women and marriage. The following February 15th is called the "Lupasala Festival", which is a festival used to show respect for other gods under Yona's rule.
In ancient Rome, the lives of young men and girls were strictly separated. However, during the Lupasara festival, young men can choose the name of their beloved girl to be engraved on the vase. In this way, during the festival, the young man can dance with the girl of his choice to celebrate the festival. If the chosen girl is also interested in the boy, they can continue to match up, and eventually they will fall in love and get married in the church together. For this reason, later generations designated February 14th as Valentine's Day every year.
Legend 2
Valentine's Day is called St. Valentine's Day in English (original meaning: "St. Valentine's Day"). From the literal point of view, it is difficult to see any connection between Chinese and Western names. There is a touching story hidden in it. In the third century AD, there was a tyrant in ancient Rome named Claudius. At that time, there were frequent wars inside and outside ancient Rome. In order to supplement the number of soldiers, the tyrant ordered that all men of a certain age must join the army to serve the country. From then on, the husband left his wife, the boy left his lover, and the whole of Rome was enveloped in long lovesickness. However, tyranny cannot prohibit love. Not far from the tyrant's palace, there is a very beautiful temple. The monk Valentine lived here. The Romans revered him very much. Men, women and children, rich and poor, high and low, would always gather around him and listen to Valentine's prayers in front of the blazing holy fire of the altar.
Wars in ancient Rome continued continuously. The tyrant Claudus conscripted a large number of citizens to the battlefield, and people complained. Men are reluctant to leave their families, and young men cannot bear to be separated from their lovers. Claudius was furious. He ordered people not to hold weddings, and even all those who were engaged were to break off their engagements. Many young people say goodbye to their loved ones and go to the battlefield in grief and indignation. Young girls are also depressed and sad because of the loss of their lovers.
Valentin felt very sad about the tyrant's cruelty. When a couple came to the temple to ask for his help, Valentini quietly held a wedding for them in front of the sacred altar. People spread the word, and many people came here and formed partners with the help of Valentine. The news finally reached the palace and the ears of the tyrant. Claudes was furious again. He ordered the soldiers to rush into the temple and drag Valentine away from a couple who were holding a wedding and throw him into the dungeon. People begged the tyrant to be impeached, but all in vain. Valentine finally died of torture in the dungeon.
His grieving friends buried him in the Church of Santa Pula. That day was February 14th, and the year was 270 AD.
Legend 3
Legend has it that Valentine was one of the earliest Christians. Being a Christian in that era meant danger and death. To cover other martyrs, Valentine was caught and thrown into prison. There he cured the blind eyes of the warden's daughter. When the tyrant heard the miracle, he was very frightened, so he beheaded Valentine in public. According to legend, on the morning of the execution, Valentine wrote a loving farewell letter to the warden's daughter, signed: From your Valentine. On that day, the blind girl planted an apricot tree with red flowers in front of his tomb to express her feelings. This day was February 14th.
Since then, Christianity has designated February 14 as Valentine’s Day.
Legend 4
Historians are more willing to get to the bottom of it, and their interpretation of Valentine's Day seems convincing.
In fact, far earlier than 270 AD, when the foundation of the city of Rome was just laid, the surrounding area was still a wilderness with packs of wolves roaming around. Among the gods worshiped by the Romans, Lupochus, the animal god, was responsible for the protection of shepherds and their flocks. Every year in February, the Romans would hold a grand ceremony to celebrate Lupercalia. The calendar back then was slightly later than it is now, so Lupercalia was actually a celebration of the coming spring. Others say that this festival celebrates the god Faunus, who is similar to the ancient Greek god Pan with human body, goat's feet and horns on his head, who is in charge of livestock and agriculture.
The origin of Lupercalia is so ancient that even scholars in the first century BC were unable to confirm it. But the importance of this festival is unquestionable.
For example, according to historical records, Antony awarded the crown to Caesar on the Lupercalia in 44 BC.
Every year on February 15th, monks will gather at a cave on the Palentine Hill in Rome. It is said that the founder of ancient Rome was raised by a she-wolf here. . Among the various celebrations of the festival is the young nobles running through the streets holding sheepskin whips. Young women would gather on both sides of the street, praying for a whip to hit them on the head. It was believed that this would make it easier for them to have children. In Latin, the sheepskin whip is called februa and the whipping is called fabruatio, both of which actually mean "purity." This is where the word February comes from.
With the expansion of Roman power in Europe, the custom of Lupercalia was brought to places such as France and Britain. One of the most popular holiday activities is similar to lottery. The young women's names were placed in the box, and then the young men stepped forward to draw. The chosen couple becomes lovers for a year or more.
The rise of Christianity made people's custom of commemorating the gods gradually fade away. The priests did not want people to give up the joy of the festival, so they changed Lupercalia to Valentine's Day and moved it to February 14. In this way, the legend about the Valentine monks and the ancient festivals are naturally combined. This festival was most popular in medieval England. After the names of unmarried men and women are drawn, they will exchange gifts with each other, and the woman becomes the man's Valentine within this year. A woman's name will be embroidered on a man's sleeve, and it becomes the man's sacred duty to care for and protect the woman.
The Pope declared February 14 to be Valentine's Day around 498 AD. This Roman marriage method was considered illegal by Christians. In the Middle Ages, in England and France, February 14 was generally considered to be the mating season of birds. Therefore, a content was added to this day, that is, it should be a romantic day. The earliest Valentine's Day gift was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife from prison in the Tower of London. Because he was captured at the battle of Agincourt. This blessing, written in 1415, is now in the collection of the British Museum in London. A few years later, King Henry V hired John Lydgate to write a tune for Catherine of Valois as a Valentine's Day gift.
The earliest Valentine's Day
The documented Valentine's Day in the modern sense dates from the early fifteenth century. The young French Archduke of Orleans was captured by the British at the Battle of Agincourt and imprisoned in the Tower of London for many years. He wrote many love poems to his wife, about 60 of which have been preserved to this day. The use of flowers as a token of Valentine's Day appeared about two hundred years later. A daughter of King Henry IV of France held a grand party on Valentine's Day. All women receive a bouquet of flowers from the man who chooses her to be their Valentine.
In this way, continuing the ancient Italian, French and British customs, we are able to send messages of love to our friends on February 14th every year. Flowers, heart-shaped candies, and tokens with the name of the sender covered with lace and fringe not only represent sincere love, but also the best memory of the Valentine monk who dared to resist tyranny.
Valentine's Day Customs
"Valentine's Day" on February 14th every year, also known as "St. Valentine's Day" is a day that requires caution - for single people This is especially true for romantic people. On Valentine's Day, as soon as you get up early in the morning, you should peek through the keyhole. According to legend, if the first person you see is walking alone, then you will be single that year; if you see two or more people walking together, then you will definitely find a lover that year; if you see two or more people walking together, you will definitely find a lover that year; If you get a rooster and a hen, you will get married before Christmas. But nowadays, there are rarely roosters and hens in the courtyards of houses, and there are no traces of chickens in open spaces in urban areas, so if you can see a pair of pigeons or a pair of sparrows, it is also a good idea.
Singles pay special attention to the first person they meet on the morning of Valentine's Day, because if you are unmarried and looking for a partner, you are destined to meet the first person you meet on February 14th. When someone gets married, at least this person will play a decisive role in your life.
If you are not shy, you can call your crush early in the morning and ask for a ride to work. Or staying shut and not going out until noon is also a good strategy.
"Valentine's Day" is one of the ancient holidays, dating back to before the emergence of Christianity, but "St. Valentine's Day" is a more recent term. According to legend, Saint Valentine was one of two bishops of the same name in ancient Rome, both of whom were killed in AD 270. The last thing they did before their death was to write a love letter to their wives (priests could get married at that time). After that, the name "St. Valentine's Day" was applied to early religious ceremonies. According to the same legend, on St. Valentine's Day, birds form pairs, bees fly in pairs, and so do people.
Times are different, and the ways of predicting marriage and attracting lovers on Valentine's Day are also different. From ancient Rome to the Victorian era, people used two half-open flowers to predict the future of marriage. Unmarried men and women plant two half-open flowers. The first letter of the flower name should be the same as the first letter of their respective names. If two flowers bloom next to each other, it indicates that the couple will have a happy life; if two flowers bloom opposite each other, it indicates that the couple will part ways; if the flowers bloom, it means that the family will be prosperous in the future; if one flower withers or In the case of death, it means that one of the spouses will die prematurely before the other.
If you don't want to leave it to fate, you can try an ancient method from Buckinghamshire, England: light a candle on the night of "St. Valentine's Day" and stick two needles at the bottom. Make sure the needle goes through the candle wick, and while piercing it, say: What I want to pierce is not just a candle, what I want to penetrate is ×××’s heart. No matter he is sleeping or awake, I want him to come and talk to me, but It should be noted that you should be realistic when choosing the lover of your dreams, and don't expect someone who is beyond your reach. It is said that when the candle burns to a needle, your lover will open the door and run to you. The second way is to put on the right sock on the left foot every night for a week before "Valentine's Day", while chanting: "Dream of living people, not dead ghosts, this is the young man, I want to Marry him." After speaking, remain silent until you wake up the next day. The third way is to tie the left sock around your neck before going to bed. Be careful not to tighten it too tightly. If you strangle yourself, you will miss something serious.
An unmarried woman believes that if she puts her shoes in a T-shape under the bed with the window open, she will dream of her sweetheart or find him standing in front of the bed. This was more successful in the countryside, where her suitor could peek through the window at the specially placed shoes.
Although "Valentine's Day" has declined for more than 100 years since the Victorian era. Today, the festival is becoming more and more popular. "St. Valentine's Day" is a holiday about love, romance and flowers, chocolates and greeting cards, which are precious to our hearts.
In different eras, the customs of celebrating Valentine's Day are different. Among them, the Valentine's Day custom of the British Queen Victoria period from 1837 to 1901 is the most unique: on February 14th, a pair of lovers transplanted a spring branch with two buds in bud into a special pot. The first letter of the flower's name must match the first letter of the couple's name. A few days later, if the two buds on the spring branches are in full bloom and complement each other, it means that the lovers will grow old together; if the two buds are divided to the west and east, and the pistils are opposite to the north, the lovers will eventually part ways; if the flowers bloom, they will grow old together. Large and brilliant, it means that the family will be full of descendants and the family will be happy in the future; if a flower withers and withers, one of the lovers is in danger of early death. The custom of praying on Valentine's Day night was also popular in Buckinghamshire: light a candle, insert two thin needles from the bottom of the candle to the heart of the candle, silently recite your lover's name, pray for lasting love, and wait until the candle burns. When you reach the tip of a needle, it is said that the one you love will knock on your door and arrive in time. There is also a Valentine's Day custom: within a week before Valentine's Day, for 7 consecutive nights, take off the sock on your left foot and put it on your right foot, and repeatedly wish: "May my beloved enter the dreamland tonight." It is said that, At this time, Yuexiaolao will throw down an auspicious red silk thread. There are also those who take off their socks and wrap them around their necks to pray for love.
After the Victorian era, the custom of Valentine's Day gradually faded away. In the 1930s and 1940s, with the popularity of greeting cards, Valentine's Day became popular again. In some countries, Valentine's Day has evolved into a trend for women to express their friendship to men. Therefore, March 14 has become a "repayment day", that is, men give gifts to women to show "repayment."
Valentine's Day is a day that belongs to friends, family and lovers. In the West, Valentine's Day is not only the best time to express your love, but also the best time to propose to your beloved. At this point, doesn’t Valentine’s Day reflect the original intention of the ancient Romans in designing this holiday?
Valentine's Day Gifts
Usually on Valentine's Day, a red rose is given to express the affection between lovers. Place a half-open red rose with a beautiful green leaf, then put it in a transparent plastic bag with a single flower, and tie a beautiful bow with a ribbon on the lower part of the flower stem to form a beautiful Beautiful small bouquet, the best gift for Valentine's Day. Roses are one of the world's major gift flowers, expressing devotion, emotion and vitality. Roses generally come in deep red, pink, yellow, white and other colors.
Famous varieties include Queen Elizabeth (red), First Love (yellow), etc. On Valentine's Day, red roses are the most popular. How many roses should I give to my lover? Of course, the more the better, one branch represents special affection, and three branches represent "I love you." Giving 6 or 8 branches represents auspicious numbers. Giving 11 branches means giving 10 branches to the person you love most, and the other branch represents yourself. As for giving 24 sticks, it is an international practice. 12 sticks are a dozen, which represents the 12 months of the year. It means pursuing perfection and showing love every month and year.
Chocolates are also indispensable on Valentine’s Day. Chocolate has been inextricably linked to love since its birth. People in love use sweet chocolate to express their deep friendship to their loved ones.
In the United States, in the 1980s, diamantaires began to conduct jewelry promotions for Valentine's Day. As a result, the two categories of Valentine's Day gifts were chocolates and flowers, and jewelry was added as a category.
Valentine's Day Culture
Valentine's Day dinner dates often represent the key to a couple's relationship.
Cultures of various countries (regions):
· United States: There is no special emotional relationship between a man saying "Happy Valentine's Day" to his female friends on this day, and it has gradually evolved into It's like a greeting in public. But men rarely greet another man in this way in public.
·Britain: Starting from the 17th century, Valentine's Day became common.
·Japan: A woman gives chocolates to the man she likes, and the man returns the gift a month later on White Day (White Day). This is the result of speculation by Japanese businessmen in 1965 .
·China: After the reform and opening up, with the development of commercial speculation, many young men and women also began to celebrate this festival. Due to different understandings of the word "lover" (in Chinese, "lover" sometimes includes "mistress", "lover", that is, a relationship between a man and a woman other than legal marriage), it has been criticized a lot. On the other hand, due to concerns about The continuous influx of Western traditional festivals into Chinese culture has diluted the celebration of traditional festivals, which are often opposed and boycotted by conservatives. To this day, similar comments are still made in the media at this time of year.
·Hong Kong: Under the long-term influence of Western culture, Valentine’s Day has been celebrated for many years. Men and women will give each other gifts. The standard gifts from men to women are usually flowers, chocolates, jewelry, etc., and the gifts from women to men are usually watches, ties and other men's clothing items. They often go to restaurants to enjoy candlelight dinners.
·Macau: On Valentine’s Day, men give women flowers, and women give men chocolates (chocolates). Both male and female couples attach great importance to this festival.
·Taiwan: This festival is also celebrated. Young men and women who have not been dating often confess their love to their sweethearts on this day, and couples will also go on dates on this day.
Various Valentine's Days
1. "Qixi" Festival
In our country, on the night of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the weather is warm and the vegetation is fragrant. This is The Qixi Festival, as it is commonly known, is also called the "Qiqiao Festival" or the "Daughter's Day". Because it is the day when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meet once a year, it is also called Chinese Valentine's Day. This is the most romantic festival among traditional Chinese festivals, and it was also the day that girls valued most in the past.
The origin of the "Chinese Valentine's Day" festival
The Chinese Valentine's Day, July 7th, is the day when the legendary Cowherd and the Weaver Girl cross the Tianhe River from Magpie Bridge to meet each other. People think of the Weaver Girl as a hard-working, kind-hearted and clever goddess, so on the night of July 7th, young girls and young women will come out to perform worship rituals and beg for skills from the Weaver Girl, hoping that they can be as dexterous as the Weaver Girl. With hands and a smart heart, you will live a happy life.
2. Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month is also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day. This title has a long history. The Lantern Festival is also a romantic festival. In ancient times, ordinary women, especially ladies or young ladies, would never leave the boudoir. Only during the Lantern Festival could they go out to watch lanterns at night. The Lantern Festival was held in the traditional feudal society. It provides an opportunity for unmarried men and women to get acquainted. Lantern Festival lantern viewing is just an opportunity for friendship. Unmarried men and women can also use the lantern viewing to find a partner for themselves. During the Lantern Festival, it is another time for young men and women to meet their lovers. Therefore, the Lantern Festival is a festival that symbolizes love among the people.
In Taiwan, there is also a traditional custom that unmarried women secretly pick onions or vegetables on the Lantern Festival night to marry a good husband. It is commonly known as: "Stealing onions, marrying a good man", "Stealing vegetables, marrying a good man", "Stealing vegetables, marrying a good husband" "Good son-in-law", girls who hope for a happy marriage will go to the vegetable garden to secretly pick onions or green vegetables on the night of the Lantern Festival, looking forward to future family happiness. In the Tang Dynasty, there were also music, dance and opera performances at the lantern market in the Tang Dynasty. Thousands of palace maids and folk girls Singing and dancing under the lights are called walking songs and step songs. Ouyang Xiu (sheng Zhazi) said: Last year on Yuan Ye, the lights in the flower market were as bright as day; in the moonlit willow branches, people gathered around after dusk. Xin Qiji (The Sapphire Case) wrote: The public searched for it thousands of times, and when I looked back at dusk, I found that person in a dimly lit place. It vividly shows the scene of ancient couples dating during the Lantern Festival. In the traditional opera, Chen San and Wu Niang met during the Lantern Festival and fell in love at first sight. Le Chang Gongwen and Xu Deyan reunited on the Lantern Festival night. In "Spring Lantern Riddles", Yu Wenyan and Ying Niang made a love at the Lantern Festival.