关于西方情人节的故事
2月14日是“情人节”。情人节又叫圣瓦伦丁节或圣华伦泰节。如今它被人们作为情侣的节日来庆祝，这是一个关于爱、浪漫以及花、巧克力、贺卡的节日。相爱的人之间互赠糖果、鲜花或其他礼物。现已成为欧美各国青年人喜爱的节日，其他国家也已开始流行。关于“情人节”的来历，有许多不同的传说经历了漫长的岁月，一直流传至今。以下关于西方情人节的故事，欢迎阅读。
西方情人节的由来
瓦伦丁节，又称情人节，是欧美和大洋洲的一些国家的民族节日。中国吃网餐饮网提醒，此节日的来源甚多，但一般是以罗马圣教徒瓦伦丁被处死，后被定为“情人节”较为普通。
传说一：公元3世纪，罗马帝国皇帝克劳迪乌斯二世在首都罗马宣布废弃所有的婚姻承诺，当时是出于战争的考虑，使更多无所牵挂的男人可以走上争战的疆场。一名叫瓦仑廷（SanctusValentinus）的神父没有遵照这个旨意而继续为相爱的年轻人举行教堂婚礼。事情被告发后，瓦仑廷神父先是被鞭打，然后被石头掷打，最后在公元270年2月14日这天被送上了绞架被绞死。14世纪以后，人们就开始纪念这个日子。现在，中文译为“情人节”的这个日子，在西方国家里就被称为ValentinesDay，用以纪念那位为情人做主而牺牲的神父。
传说二：据说瓦伦丁是最早的基督徒之一，那个时代做一名基督徒意味着危险和死亡。为掩护其他殉教者，瓦沦丁被抓住，投入了监牢。在那里他治愈了典狱长女儿失明的双眼。当暴君听到着一奇迹时，他感到非常害怕，于是将瓦沦丁斩首示众。据传说，在行刑的那一天早晨，瓦沦丁给典狱长的女儿写了一封情意绵绵的告别信，落款是：FromyourValentine（寄自你的瓦伦丁）。当天，盲女在他墓前种了一棵开红花的杏树，以寄托自己的情思，这一天就是2月14日。自此以后，基督教便把2月14日定为情人节。
传说三：在古罗马时期，2月14日是为表示对约娜的尊敬而设的节日。约娜是罗马众神的皇后，罗马人同时将她尊奉为妇女和婚姻之神。接下来的2月15日则被称为“卢帕撒拉节”，是用来对约娜治下的其他众神表示尊敬的节日。在古罗马，年轻人和少女的生活是被严格分开的。然而，在卢帕撒拉节，小伙子们可以选择一个自己心爱的姑娘的名字刻在花瓶上。这样，过节的时候，小伙子就可以与自己选择的姑娘一起跳舞，庆祝节日。如果被选中的姑娘也对小伙子有意的话，他们便可一直配对，而且最终他们会坠入爱河并一起步入教堂结婚。后人为此而将每年的2月14日定为情人节。
还有一个传说（五），西方情人节来源于古罗马的牧神节（LupercaliaFestival）。牧神节本来是庆祝一个罗马畜牧神卢波库斯的古老节日，后来演变人情人节。牧神节于每年的2月15日，修士们会聚集在罗马城中巴沦丁Palantine）山上的一个洞穴旁庆祝。据说在这里，古罗马城的奠基者 （Romilus andRemus）被一只母狼扶育长大。在节日的各项庆典中，有一项是年轻的贵族们，手持羊皮鞭，在街道上奔跑。年轻妇女们会聚集在街道两旁，祈望羊皮鞭抽打到她们头上。人们相信这样会使她们更容易生儿育女。在拉丁语中，羊皮鞭被叫做 februa，鞭打叫做 fabruatio， 实际上都含有'纯洁'的意思。二月的名字（February）就是由此而来。
1. Looking for Dates
One of the most popular customs of Valentine's Day observed worldwide is to go on a date with your sweetheart. Those without a date start looking for one days before the festival.
2. Wishing ‘Happy Valentine's Day' to all We Love
People take opportunity of the day to wish ‘Happy Valentine's Day' to anyone they love be it father, mother, teachers, siblings, friends, co-workers or just anyone special to them. The idea behind this tradition is to celebrate love, get love and give love to everyone around us.
3. Valentine's Day Custom of Exchanging Notes
One of the most commonly observed Valentine's Day customs is the exchange of notes and greeting cards called ‘Valentines'. Most commonly used pictures in Valentine's Greetings include red roses, hearts and Cupid - the god of love.
4. Valentine's Day Tradition of Exchanging Gifts
Some of the most popular gifts exchanged between lovers on Valentine's Day are fresh flowers - mainly roses, chocolates and teddy bears. Fine jewelry is increasingly becoming a popular St Valentine's Day gift for women. Candies are also gifted to dear ones including grandparents, parents, siblings, teachers and friends. This is because Valentine's Day is increasingly being regarded as the festival that celebrates love between two individuals and not just lovers.
5. An Occasion to Dine and Wine
The other most traditional way to celebrate Valentine's Day is to go for romantic candlelight dinners with one's Valentine. Many also choose to propose their dates in such a romantic setting and say the golden words, ‘I love you'. Many people also organize Valentine's Day Couple's parties in their homes where lovers have a blast in the company of friends. Those without a partner organize Valentine's Day Single's Party and have a good time dancing and playing games with other friends who are single.
6. Valentine's Day Celebrations in Schools
In several countries including United States and Canada there is a tradition to organize Valentine's Day classroom parties in schools. In such parties children exchange chocolates and Valentine's Day cards with their friends. Senior school children usually organize Valentine's Day dance parties and have fun with friends.
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