The Western and Eastern origins of romantic holidays

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Are you going to bare your heart to your love on this romantic day?

Although it is not a public holiday in any country, Valentine's Day, or St. Valentine's Day, has been celebrated by people in many regions across the world.

Observed on February 14, the day witnesses lovers expressing their affection through gifting.

Two squirrels and a heart-shaped snow sculpture, February 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Origin of Valentine's Day

The holiday originated in the Roman Festival of Lupercalia in the middle of February, celebrating the arrival of the spring.

At the end of the 5th century, the church replaced the day with St. Valentine's Day, a Christian celebration to pay tribute to St. Valentine.

St. Valentine is believed to be a priest from Rome martyred in the third century, but his identity is still in debate. There are two legends explaining his deeds.

A drama telling the origin of Valentine's Day is staged in Beijing, February 12, 2012. /VCG Photo

One story says that he defied Emperor Claudius II's order for men to remain single in order to be better soldiers, and secretly arranged marriages. After being found out, he was sentenced to death.

Another story contends that St. Valentine was put into jail for helping Christians to escape from the authority's harsh treatment. He fell in love with the jailer's daughter and sent her a love letter signed "from your Valentine" before he was executed on February 14.

No matter which one is right, the day has been hued with a color of romance ever since.

An illustration features Cupid, the Roman god of love, and an arrow through a heart. /VCG Photo

Valentine greetings first appeared in the Middle Ages, and became popular gradually with friends and lovers exchanging handwritten messages, which always featured Cupid, the Roman god of love, and an arrow through a heart.

Origin of 'China's Valentine's Day'

China also has its own Valentine's Day. Qixi Festival, the Double Seventh Day, has long been recognized, because of the famous tale of the cowherd and the fairy weaver, who meet each other on Double Seventh Day annually on a “bridge” formed by a flock of magpies after separation.

Although the legendary love story is very touching, the day was actually an occasion for women to showcase their weaving skill in ancient China, a required skill to enter into a marriage, and pray for the improvement of the skill and find a Mr. Right.

In Chinese legend, the cowherd and the fairy weaver meet each other on Double Seventh Day annually on a “bridge” formed by a flock of magpies after separation. /VCG Photo

In comparison, Lantern Festival, if you look into its customs, is more like Valentine's Day.

Lantern Festival comes on the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, when Chinese people traditionally hold grand lantern shows at night, and people of different classes visit to appreciate lanterns and guess lantern riddles.

In ancient China, unmarried women were required to stay indoors all year round, except for several occasions, including Lantern Festival. Therefore, it was the best time for unmarried women to meet men publicly.

Many literary works depict the meeting of lovers on Lantern Festival.

A couple shows support for China's Valentine's Day – Lantern Festival, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, February 9, 2017. /VCG Photo

In “New Records of the Two Capitals,” written by historiographer Wei Shu of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Princess Lechang of the Chen Dynasty (557-589) and her husband Xu Deyan were forced to separate due to the collapse of their country. They broke a bronze mirror, of which each held a half, and agreed to sell the halves in a market during the next Lantern Festival as a secret signal to find each other. They successfully met each other this way.

"The Lantern Festival Night" by Ouyang Xiu, a scholar-official and poet of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), tells the story of a woman's sadness when she can't find the man she met at the previous year's festival.

A couple visits a lantern show in Shanghai, February 14, 2014. /VCG Photo

And the most famous and recited poem verse depicting the mystery of love must be Xin Qiji's poem of the same name, which reads:

“But in the crowd once and again

I look for her in vain.

When all at once I turn my head,

I find her there where lantern light is dimly shed.”

Whether it's Valentine's Day or the Lantern Festival, people from the East and West look to spend time with their true love on one of these special days.

The Lantern Festival is only five days away. If you didn't have any luck on Valentine's Day, why not give the Lantern Festival a try?