St. Valentine's Day has roots in several different legends that have found their way to us through the ages. One of the earliest popular symbols of the day is Cupid（愛神丘比特）, the Roman god of love, who is represented by the image of a young boy with bow and arrow. Three hundred years after the death of Jesus Christ, the Roman emperors still demanded that everyone believe in the Roman gods. Valentine, a Christian priest, had been thrown in prison for his teachings. On February 14, Valentine was beheaded（斬首）, not only because he was a Christian, but also because he had performed a miracle. He supposedly cured the jailer's daughter of her blindness. The night before he was executed, he wrote the jailer's daughter a farewell letter, signing it "From Your Valentine." Another legend tells us that this same Valentine, well-loved by all, received notes to his jail cell from children and friends who missed him. Another Valentine was an Italian bishop who lived at about the same time, AD 200. He was imprisoned because he secretly married couples, contrary to the laws of the Roman emperor. Some legends say he was burned at the stake. February 14 was also a Roman holiday, held in honor of a goddess. Young men randomly chose the name of a young girl to escort to the festivities. The custom of choosing a sweetheart on this date spread through Europe in the Middle Ages, and then to the early American colonies. Throughout the ages, people also believed that birds picked their mates on February 14! In AD 496 Sain Pope Gelasius I named February 14 as "Valentine's Day". Although it's not an official holiday, most Americans observe this day. Whatever the odd mixture of origins, St. Valentine's Day is now a day for sweethearts. It is the day that you show your friend or loved one that you care. You can send candy to someone you think is special. Or you can send roses, the flower of love. Most people send "valentines," a greeting card named after the notes that St. Valentine received in jail. Valentines can be sentimental, romantic and heartfelt（真心真意的）. They can be funny and friendly. If the sender is shy, valentines can be anonymous. Americans of all ages love to send and receive valentines. Handmade valentines created by cutting hearts out of colored paper, show that a lot of thought was put into making them personal. Valentines can be heart-shaped, or have hearts, the symbol of love, on them. In elementary schools children make valentines for their classmates and put them in a large decorated box, similar to a mailbox. On February 14, the teacher opens the box and distributes the valentines to each student. After the students read their valentines they have a small party with refreshments. For teenagers and adults, major newspapers throughout the country have a Valentine's Day offer. Anyone can send in a message, for a small fee of course, destined for a would-be sweetheart, a good friend, an acquaintance or even a spouse of fifty years. The message is printed in a special section of the newspaper on February 14每年2月14日，是西方傳統(tǒng)的圣瓦倫丁節(jié)（Valentine's Day），又稱“情人節(jié)”。 公元三世紀(jì)時(shí)，古羅馬有一位暴君叫克勞多斯（Claudius）。離暴君的宮殿不遠(yuǎn)，有一座非常漂亮的神廟。修士瓦倫?。╒alentine） 就住在這里。羅馬人非常崇敬他，男女老幼，不論貧富貴賤，總會(huì)群集在他的周圍，在祭壇的熊熊圣火前，聆聽瓦倫丁的祈禱。 古羅馬的戰(zhàn)事一直連綿不斷，暴君克勞多斯征召了大批公民前往戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)，人們?cè)孤曒d道。男人們不愿意離開家庭，小伙子們不忍與情人分開?？藙诙嗨贡┨缋?，他傳令人們不許舉行婚禮，甚至連所有已訂了婚的也馬上要解除婚約。許多年輕人就這樣告別愛人，悲憤地走向戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)。年輕的姑娘們也由于失去愛侶，抑郁神傷。 瓦倫丁對(duì)暴君的虐行感到非常難過。當(dāng)一對(duì)情侶來到神廟請(qǐng)求他的幫助時(shí)，瓦倫丁在神圣的祭壇前為它們悄悄地舉行了婚禮。人們一傳十，十傳百，很多人來到這里，在瓦淪丁的幫助下結(jié)成伴侶。 一對(duì)情侶在巴黎一個(gè)公園里的情侶墻前合影。這座用藍(lán)色瓷磚鑲嵌而成的墻上，用全世界的不同文字寫滿了311個(gè)意為“我愛你”的句子。 消息終于傳進(jìn)了宮殿，傳到了暴君的耳里?？藙诙嗨褂忠淮伪┨缋?，他命令士兵們沖進(jìn)神廟，將瓦倫丁從一對(duì)正在舉行婚禮的新人身旁拖走，投入地牢。人們苦苦哀求暴君的劾免，但都徒勞而返。瓦倫丁終于在地牢里受盡折磨而死。悲傷的朋友們將他安葬于圣普拉（St. Praxedes）教堂。那一天是2月14日，那一年是公元270年。 另外還有一個(gè)版本。傳說中瓦倫丁是最早的基督徒之一，那個(gè)時(shí)代做一名基督徒意味著危險(xiǎn)和死亡。為掩護(hù)其他殉教者，瓦倫丁被抓住，投入了監(jiān)牢。在那里他治愈了典獄長(zhǎng)女兒失明的雙眼。當(dāng)暴君聽到著一奇跡時(shí)，他感到非常害怕，于是將瓦倫丁斬首示眾。據(jù)傳說，在行刑的那一天早晨，瓦倫丁給典獄長(zhǎng)的女兒寫了一封情意綿綿的告別信，落款是: From your Valentine （寄自你的瓦倫?。?/p>