But we do know it contains vestiges of the early Christian church in ancient Rome.

但我們所知道的是，它擁有古羅馬早期基督教堂的遺跡。

The association between mid-February and romance goes back to a pagan festival known as Lupercalia,

二月中旬和浪漫之間的連結可以回溯到稱為「牧神節」的異教節日，

likely honoring either Lupa, the she-wolf of Rome, who suckled Romulus and Remus, or Faunus, their god of fertility.

可能是要頌揚撫育 Romulus 和 Remus 的羅馬母狼 Lupa 或是其生育之神 Faunus。

The festivities began with an animal sacrifice.

慶祝活動以動物祭祀開始。

Then, the ritualistic slapping of young women with strips of the animal's skin and blood to bestow fertility for the coming year.

接著是以動物皮、血條拍打年輕婦女的儀式，以賜予來年的繁盛。

In the 5th century, perhaps in an effort to christianize the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as Saint Valentine's Day.

在 5 世紀時，也許是為了使這個異教節日基督教化，教宗哲拉旭宣佈 2 月 14 日為聖瓦倫丁節。

As for the real Saint Valentine, there were reportedly several canonized by the Church.

至於真正的聖瓦倫丁，據說有幾位受教堂冊封為聖徒。

Legend has it that one Saint Valentine, a defiant Roman priest, lived during the 3rd century A.D., under Emperor Claudius II.

傳說有一位聖瓦倫丁是具挑釁姿態的羅馬牧師，生活在 3 世紀克勞狄烏斯二世皇帝統治之下。

Claudius was an ambitious ruler.

克勞狄烏斯是個野心勃勃的統治者。

His battles required vast armies of men to abandon their young families for long periods of time, resulting in a military that was half-hearted and homesick.

他的戰爭需要大量男子長期拋妻棄子，導致出現一個心不在焉、充滿鄉愁的軍隊。

So determined was Claudius to stop love from sapping the will of his armies, he banned marriages altogether.

克勞狄烏斯希望阻止愛情削弱其軍隊意志的決心之強，讓他完全地禁止了婚姻。

Father Valentine thought the ban unjust and defied the Emperor, continuing to marry young lovers in secret.

瓦倫丁神父認為此禁令不公平，於是反抗皇帝並繼續偷偷地為年輕戀人主婚。

The Emperor eventually caught on to the priest's actions, arrested him, and sentenced him to death.

皇帝最終發現了神父的行為，逮捕了他並予以死罪。

It is believed that young couples he had secretly wed would visit his cell, passing him flowers and notes through the bars as symbols of their gratitude.

據信，受他私下主婚的年輕新人會造訪他的牢房，從柵欄空隙遞送鮮花與字條給他以示感激之情。

The story continues that the condemned Father Valentine fell in love with his jailer's daughter.

故事繼續說明受懲罰的瓦倫丁神父愛上了監獄看守的人的女兒。

On February 14th, the day he was executed, it is said he passed the young girl a note⏤it was signed, "from your Valentine".

在 2 月 14 日他被行刑當天，他據說傳了一張字條給那年輕女孩，信尾署名：你的瓦倫丁（後可譯為「你的情人」）。

A tradition was born.

一個傳統因此誕生。

Cupid, the winged matchmaker, started out as the Roman god of love,

邱比特這個帶著翅膀的紅娘一開始是羅馬愛神，

inspired the image of cherubs for Christians,

啟發了基督徒熟知的小天使意象，

and is now a favorite of card makers and mass marketers.

現在是許多卡片製造商以及大型行銷商的最愛。

Our modern Valentine's Day, removed from its religious and pagan past, has evolved into one of the most celebrated holidays on the calendar.

我們現代的情人節脫離了其宗教和異教過往，並發展成為日曆上最常被慶祝的節日之一。

On average, Americans shower their loved ones with 180 million roses⏤red ones naturally⏤and almost 36 million heart-shaped boxes of candy.

美國人平均送出了 1 億 8 千萬朵紅玫瑰給所愛的人，也送出了近 3 千 6 百萬份用心型盒裝的糖果。

Not to mention all those cards, dinners, and diamonds.

更別提所有的卡片、晚餐和鑽石了。

All told, the holiday brings in almost 14 billion dollars annually, giving retailers plenty to love as well.

總數來說，這個節日每年會帶來將近 140 億美元，讓零銷商有很多可愛之處。

But if you're worried that you can't afford to treat your loved one properly next Valentine's Day, take heart:

不過如果你擔心下一個情人節來臨時，無法負擔好好招待心愛的人，請記得：

The poets were right; love is really all you need.

詩人們說得對，你需要的真的只有愛情。