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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(爱神丘比特), 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(斩首), 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.
以上就是新东方网雅思频道为大家整理的雅思口语素材：Valentines Day(情人节)，非常实用。更多资讯、资料尽在新东方网雅思频道。最后，新东方网雅思频道预祝大家在雅思考试中取得好成绩!
