HOW STUFF WORKS
How Valentine's Day Works -- 1/2
Learn the history behind the most romantic day of the year
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一年中最浪漫日子的起源

Friday, Febuary 13, 2009.

The history behind the most romantic day of the year

Every year on Feb. 14, spouses, friends, families and lovers celebrate Valentine's Day. But where did this tradition come from?

Apparently the whole event goes back to the time of the Roman Empire. The Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia on Feb. 14. During festival time, women would write love letters, also known as billets, and leave them in a large urn. The men of Rome would then draw a note from the urn and pursue the woman who wrote the message they had chosen.

Christian origins
The Catholic Church decided to substitute a Christian celebration in place of the pagan celebration. Therefore, in 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius named Feb. 14 in honor of Saint Valentine.

Who was Saint Valentine? Today, the Catholic Church ...

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