【情人節2024】由來典故令人心碎，Valentine神父為何被處死？過節傳統、送禮一次看！

說到情人節，多半一致認同「最正統」正是日期在2月14日的西洋情人節，英文稱作 Valentine's Day。不過你想過為什麼取名「Valentine」嗎？為什麼情人節英文當中沒有lovers或是象徵愛的字。追溯起情人節由來與典故，流傳下來的說法最有名的，正是為了紀念一位名為「Valentine」的神父。

情人節由來是什麼？情人節為什麼叫 Valentine's Day ？除了是慶祝牧神節一說之外，最有名的歷史起因追溯到古羅馬時代3世紀時，羅馬帝國因戰爭頻繁，當時羅馬皇帝Claudius二世為了擴大徵兵，規定要求年輕單身男性，需要加入羅馬軍隊一同為國作戰，還下令男子不能結婚。

當時就有一位名為Valentine（瓦倫泰，又譯華倫泰、瓦倫廷）神父，違反了這項命令，自願私底下偷偷幫想結婚的男女證婚，被皇帝發現之後，因而將Valentine逮捕入獄，據悉他於269年2月14日Valentine被絞死，為紀念Valentine的精神，人們就將每年2月14日訂定為紀念Valentine的日子，也成了情人節最有名的典故之一，情人節除了紀念他守護愛情的精神，更象徵人們願意勇敢地追求愛情。

延伸閱讀：2023白色情人節，什麼是白色情人節？由來故事、習俗怎麼過一次看！送禮代表什麼？

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Saint Valentine (approx. 176 - Rome, 14 Feb. 273) Bishop of Terni and Martyr. According to tradition, he died by beheading under Aurelian, at 97, after torture. He was imprisoned for having joined in marriage the young Serapio, christian and the roman legionary Sabino, pagan, who had urgently requested baptism in order to join the love, seriously ill; the two dead together immediately after the celebration. For this episode, the saint is venerated as the patron saint of in lovers, but so also of epileptics.

Above Saint Valentine (approx. 176 - Rome, 14 Feb. 273) Bishop of Terni and Martyr. According to tradition, he died by beheading under Aurelian, at 97, after torture. He was imprisoned for having joined in marriage the young Serapio, christian and the roman legionary （Photo:Getty Images）

情人節典故2

【情人節由來2023】一直搞錯了超不浪漫？瓦倫泰神父為何被除死？真正象徵是「勇敢追愛」

Above Universal film player Dorothy Gulliver (1908-1997) delivers a Valentine, Hollywood, California, 1930s. (Photo:Getty Images)

情人節另外一個傳聞，則是同一時期的羅馬帝國曾經迫害基督徒，當時一位名為 Valentine 的教徒，為了掩護與援助其他受逼害者，暴露身份因而入獄，沒想到他與典獄長的女兒相戀，更奇蹟治癒了獄中典獄長的女兒失明雙眼。當他被羅馬皇帝下令處死前，寫了一封情意綿綿的告別信致典獄長女兒，信的落款以「來自你的 Valentine （瓦倫泰）」做為結語，而Valentine被處死的那一日，正是2月14日。不管是哪一個傳說，都彰顯了Valentine服有同強心、勇敢且浪漫的人物魅力。

典型的情人節傳統、禮物

To My Valentine' Victorian illustration with winged cherubs and hearts on a blue background, chromolithograph, 1910s. (Illustration by GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)

Above To My Valentine' Victorian illustration with winged cherubs and hearts on a blue background, chromolithograph, 1910s. (Illustration by GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)

circa 1950: A woman making heart-shaped home-made cards for her sweethearts on Saint Valentine's Day. (Photo by Al Barry/Three Lions/Getty Images)

Above circa 1950: A woman making heart-shaped home-made cards for her sweethearts on Saint Valentine's Day. (Photo :Al Barry/Three Lions/Getty Images)

Valentine's Day Card, Collage of paper and fabric with printed and ink inscriptions, ca. 1830-1835, folded: 4 7/8 x 7 5/8 in., 12.4 x 19.4 cm. (Photo by: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Above Valentine's Day Card, Collage of paper and fabric with printed and ink inscriptions, ca. 1830-1835, folded: 4 7/8 x 7 5/8 in., 12.4 x 19.4 cm. (Photo : Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

大約 14 世紀，情人節才被作為浪漫的一天來慶祝。除了美國外，加拿大、英國、法國、墨西哥和澳洲等地也慶祝情人節！在英國，情人節在 17 世紀左右開始流行，到了 18 世紀中葉，朋友和戀人交換小信物或手寫卡片已經開始變得普遍。到了 1900 年由於印刷技術的改進，印刷卡片開始逐漸取代書面信件，卡片也是人們表達情感最早也最簡單的方式。

而美國人約在 1700 年代初，開始交換手工情人節禮物。1840 年代，Esther A. Howland 開始在美國銷售第一批量產的情人節卡片，更被稱為「情人節之母」，在情人節送卡片成了每年第二大送賀卡的節日；情人節最經典就是送巧克力和紅玫瑰，兩者都是愛情的象徵。

日本情人節：女生告白

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 08: A buyer checks the quality roses waiting to be auctioned at Aalsmeer Flower auction in the run up to Valentines Day on February 8, 2007 in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. Inside the world's largest commercial building Aalsmeer Flower Auction is the biggest of it's kind in the world. In the run up to Valentines day top quality roses were selling for 3 Euros each with traders selling over 50 million roses and over 22 million cut flowers and plants every day. The most special orde

Above AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - FEBRUARY 08: A buyer checks the quality roses waiting to be auctioned at Aalsmeer Flower auction in the run up to Valentines Day on February 8, 2007 in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. Inside the world's largest commercial building Aalsmeer Flower Auction is the biggest of it's kind in the world. In the run up to Valentines day top quality roses were selling for 3 Euros each with traders selling over 50 million roses and over 22 million cut flowers and plants every day. The most special orde

Puccini Bomboni chocolate shop selling exotic Calvados liqueur flavour chocolates in stylish display as treats, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)

Above Puccini Bomboni chocolate shop selling exotic Calvados liqueur flavour chocolates in stylish display as treats, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)

情人節在各大商業行為的宣傳下，演變從送禮、送花、送巧克力、送禮或一同到餐廳享用燭光晚餐、出遊的情侶專屬日子，每到情人節時商機可說是高達數百億之多！更使許多沒伴侶的「單身狗」，在情人節那天因為受到太多情侶放閃而相對厭世。

不過在日本、南韓，「西洋情人節」可是女生告白的日子！到情人節那一天，女性會送巧克力給心儀的男性，送給心儀對象的巧克力被稱為「本命巧克力」；相對的，收到巧克力的男生會在3月14日的白色情人節送出「糖果」作為回禮，代表我也喜歡你；而在韓國，每個月的14日都是情人節。

你的情人節打算怎麼過？別被商業行為給牽制，情侶們待在一起，不一定要揮毫花大錢，不管哪種方式都是最特別、專屬二人的情人節！單身者也不需要太「上心」，「與其委屈的戀愛，不如驕傲地單身。」又或著勇敢追愛、勇於守護你心愛的人，都是一種表情意的方式！

現在就追蹤 Tatler Taiwan 的 Instagram：@tatlertaiwan

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Topics

Valentine's Day 情人節

Tatler Asia

情人節由來居然是這樣？Valentine瓦倫泰神父為何被處死？真正象徵是「勇敢追愛」

情人節典故2

典型的情人節傳統、禮物

日本情人節：女生告白