As the Valentine's Day draws near, flowers, candy and other gifts are selling like hot cakes. The lover's holiday that originated in 5th century Rome has become more and more popular in China during recent years. Now the annual carnival for couples in love is coming back and the whole country is permeated with an atmosphere of romance.
There are several different sayings about the origin of Valentine's Day, but the one most believable is that it originated in the 5th Century Rome as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop who had been beheaded by Emperor Claudius.
Claudius determined that married men made poor soldiers and so banned marriage from his empire. But Valentine secretly married young men that came to him. When Claudius found out about Valentine, he first tried to convert him to paganism. But Valentine reversed the strategy, trying instead to convert Claudius. When he failed, he was stoned and beheaded.
During the days Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer. His love for her and his great faith, managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness before his death. Before he was taken away, he signed her a farewell massage, "From your Valentine." The phrase has been used, some say, ever since.
Following are some interviews with Chinese youth from different areas all about Valentine's Day. Everyone tells of their own understanding of the holiday, as well as their point of view on love.
Eric Xie
Age: 26
Occupation: software designer
Place: Beijing
Q: Do you know the date and the origin of Valentine's Day?
A: February 14. It came from the West but I don't know the details.
Q: When did you learn about it for the first time and by which means?
A: First grade in junior high school. I remember that a classmate received a bouquet of red roses and since then I began to concentrate on the lover's day.
Q: What did you do on Valentine's Day last year?
A: My girlfriend and I went to Hong Kong for a seven-day tour.
Q: And any plans for this year's holiday?
A: Go skiing with her and my colleagues during the daytime. All of us are ski "meisters" and we don't want to miss the opportunity since the winter is going; then wine and dine at a restaurant and sing karaoke during the night.
Q: Do you take this holiday seriously? What's the perfect Valentine's Day to you?
A: Yes I do. On Valentine's Day I can relax and enjoy myself. Have fun not only with my girlfriend but with many other friends. The most romantic Valentine's Day should be in a quiet cabin in the woods, chatting with her from dusk to dawn.
Q: Do you know China's lover's day?
A: Sorry, I have no idea.
Q: What's your understanding of "lover"?
A: I think lover is different from wife or girlfriend. For me, it means expectation and mystery. One may have several lovers in life, from whom we can get various experience.
Jimi Qiu
Age: 23
Occupation: music DJ
Place: Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Q: What do you know about Valentine's Day?
A: Frankly speaking, I am not familiar with it. Everybody celebrates it and so do I. Most couples in love feel very happy at the festival. Sending gifts and roses to your girlfriend that day is an important task for men, of course we can do it anytime. But this is really different.
Q: When did you know it for the first time?
A: Maybe at junior high school... Many students wrote affectionate messages on cards and sent them to those they admired. Since then I noticed Valentine's Day.
Q: Do you take this holiday seriously? What do you think a perfect Valentine's Day should be?
A: Yes, I do. The perfect Valentine's should be like this: I buy some music CDs for her and we talk about the future at my house. I play the guitar and she sings, accompanying the melody.
Q: Do you know lover's day in China? And compared with the Western holiday, which one is more attractive to you?
A: The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month. For me, they are equal and of the same importance. But as far as I know, most Chinese people don't celebrate the domestic lover's holiday.
Q: What's your understanding of "lover"?
A: Lover is a boyfriend, or a sweetheart, and the one who can get along with you, hand-in-hand, till the end. But it seems that in modern society there is something new for the description of a "lover". I hope it will remain positive and commendatory in my life.
Justine
Age:24
Occupation: Acupuncture doctor
Place: Shanghai
Q: Do you know the date and the origin of Valentine's Day?
A: February 14. I am insensible of its origin.
Q: When did you learn about it for the first time?
A: I knew of it in junior high school because of a broadcast program.
Q: What did you do on Valentine's Day last year?
A: I can't remember the details because I was single then.
Q: And how will you spend it this year?
A: I am not sure because my boyfriend is not by my side. Maybe I'll go shopping with my friends. Were there a football game of the England Soccer League, I would stay at home and watch the living broadcast of the game.
Q: Then what is the perfect Valentine's Day to you?
A: My boyfriend and I are both football fans. So I hope we two may watch a wonderful game in a little bar in Manchester. After the local team wins the game, we go for a celebration meal.
Q: Do you think that Valentine's Day has become more important to you as well as the youngsters in China?
A: Of course yes. Actually it's not my intention, but due to various commercial activities. You see, the country is flooded with all kinds of advertisements for the lover's holiday. Whenever watching TV programs or reading newspapers these days, no one can close their eyes to the overflowing news about Valentine's Day.
Q: What is your understanding of the lover?
A: Two who are deeply attracted to each other both by appearance and thoughts, they can be called lovers.
Lina
Age: 23
Occupation: reporter
Place: Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Q: Would you tell me your understanding of Valentine's Day?
A: I am not sure about where and how the festival came about. Anyway, many lovers usually can't stay together due to heavy daily work. It's really good that Valentine's Day offers such an opportunity for lovers to enjoy a warm and romantic holiday. I look forward to celebrating it every year.
Q: When did you learn about it for the first time?
A: When I was at junior high school. Some of my friends had been in love. When we chatted, they told me the custom of Valentine's Day, such as sending cards and gifts.
Q: What did you do on Valentine's Day last year?
A: Then I was in Beijing, working for the Chengdu-based Auto Fashion News, while my then boyfriend was in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Both of us were very busy and therefore had no time to celebrate. So we only made contact by a long distant call. Before long we fell out with each other. I said good-bye to him as we were so far away from each other.
Q: And this year's holiday?
A: This time I will celebrate it with my new boyfriend as we are in the same occupation. If time permits, we probably will roam the streets. Nothing better than cooking for ourselves and dining while a comic movie is playing on the TV.
Q: Do you know lover's day in China?
A: The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, right?
Q: What do you think of the meaning of "lover"?
A: For me, the lover of the present means boyfriend and the lover in the future means husband.
Eve
Age: 20
Occupation: college student
Place: Shen Yang, Liaoning Province
Q: Do you have any background knowledge about Valentine's Day?
A: It arrives on February 14. Previously, my classmates told me three different versions of the legend of St. Valentine. But I can't tell which is true.
Q: When did you know it for the first time?
A: I probably knew it at second grade, primary school…over exaggerated, eh? One of my pals asked me to go with her and buy some chocolate for a boy. That's the first time I learned that on Valentine's Day you should send gifts to the one you admire.
Q: What did you do on Valentine's Day last year?
A: I cut ties with my then boyfriend on St. Valentine's Day and bought a box of chocolates for myself.
Q: What will you do this Valentine's?
A: I hope someone appears at the magic moment and gives me a big surprise.
Q: Do you know China's lover's day?
A: Yes, it arrives on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month on which day the Cowhand and Weaver Maid meet each other.
Q: Which one is more important to you, the domestic or the Western one?
A: The Western one, or St Valentine's Day. It's difficult to remember the Chinese one for the date of the Double Seventh Festival changes every year on the Gregorian calendar.
Q: What do you think of the meaning of lover?
A: I think it indicates an unstable relationship. Maybe the ancient emperor and his loads of concubines could be called lovers.
Lancelot
Age: 24
Occupation: Foreign trader salesman
Place: Dubai, one of the seven member states of the United Arab Emirates
Q: What do you know about St. Valentine's Day?
A: It's a festival that originated from Rome. The date is February 14th. I am unaware of the details. Briefly, I think it offers an opportunity for lovers to express their affection to each other and may consolidate their relationship. Luckily, many poor bachelors may find a partner on that day.
Q: When did you learn about it the first time?
A: Maybe second grade, junior high school. It is because then I began to pay more attention to a particular girl who always gave me pins and needles. When I looked at her shining eyes, I just couldn't find my tongue.
Q: What did you do on Valentine's Day last year?
A: Nothing but read martial arts novels to kill time. I felt very lonely on this foreign land.
Q: What will you do this year?
A: No specific plans. You see, Dubai is a Muslim city where Valentine's Day is not popular. I'd like to ring some female friends who are working in China.
Q: Do you take this holiday seriously? What do you think a perfect Valentine's Day should be?
A: Sure, I do. The perfect Valentine's Day, for me, is that I hold her tightly in my arms while sitting on the beach. It would be best if we fed birds with bread on a cross-sea ferry as the sun sets.
Q: Didn't you think of pursuing a western girl? Do you have a dream lover from the West?
A: Yes, once I did, but I gave up. I don't believe love can conquer difficulties, such as the cultural gap and distance. Besides, Audrey Hepburn is my idol.
Q: What do you think of the meaning of "lover"?
A: It should be like The Lover (a film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, 1991) played by Jane March and the Hong Kong-based actor Tony Leung Ka Fai.
(China.org.cn by Lixiao February 13, 2004)
