新概念英语：关于情人节你不知道的十件事
Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Whether you’re steadfastly single or joyfully coupled up, chances are you have a thing or two to learn about love. Read on for surprising stats and unexpected info about the holiday.
你爱或是不爱，情人节就在那里。不管你是坚定的单身主义者，还是处于甜蜜恋爱中，关于爱情，你都可能有一两件事要学习。看看关于情人节，有哪些让人吃惊的统计数据和意想不到的事情吧。
1. VALENTINE’S DAY STARTED WITH THE ROMANS.
1. 情人节起源于古罗马
There are two theories about the origin of Valentine’s Day. The first is that the day derives from Lupercalia, a Roman festival on February 15 where men stripped naked and spanked young maidens in hopes of upping their fertility. The second theory is that while the Roman Emperor Claudius II was trying to bolster his army, he forbade young men to marry (apparently single men make better soldiers). In the spirit of love, St. Valentine defied the ban and performed secret marriages. For his disobedience, Valentine was executed on February 14.
关于情人节的起源有两种说法。第一种说法是情人节起源于古罗马的牧神节，牧神节在每年的2月15日。这一天，年轻的女子要赤身露体，男人要抽打她们，认为这有利于她们生育。第二种说法则是罗马皇帝克劳狄一世为了征召更多士兵，禁止年轻男子结婚(显然单身男子能够成为更好的士兵)。瓦伦丁神父却本着爱的精神，违抗禁令，秘密替人主持婚礼，后来他因此被处死，死期便是2月14日。
2. IT’S NOT THE MOST POPULAR HOLIDAY FOR GREETING CARDS.
2. 情人节不是赠送贺卡最多的节日
According to the Greeting Card Association, 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second most popular greeting card–giving occasion, after Christmas.
美国贺卡协会称，每年交换的情人节贺卡达1.9亿张，这使得情人节成为第二大赠送贺卡最多的节日，位列圣诞节之后。
3. SINGLE LADIES HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT FINDING A DATE.
3. 这是单身女子结识约会对象的好机会
There are 119 single men—never married, widowed or divorced—in their 20s for every 100 single women of the same age.
对于每100个20多岁的单身女性，都有119个同龄的单身男性——从未结过婚的，丧偶的，或者是离婚的。
4. TRUE LOVE IS APPARENTLY NOT THAT HARD TO FIND.
4. 显然，找到真爱没那么难
Over two million marriages take place in the United States every year. That means there are more than 6,000 a day!
美国每年有200多万对夫妻结婚，也就是说每天有6000多对!
5. HUSBANDS AND BOYFRIENDS LIKE TO GIVE BOUQUETS.
5. 丈夫和男朋友都喜欢送花
Men account for 73 percent of Valentine’s Day flower sales.
男士们对情人节鲜花销售量的贡献占到了73%。
6. ROSES ARE THE FLOWERS OF LOVE.
6. 玫瑰是爱情之花
The favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love? The red rose, of course. The bud stands for strong romantic feelings, so it’s no surprise they make up the most popular Valentine’s Day bouquets.
古罗马爱神维纳斯最爱什么花?当然是红玫瑰了。玫瑰代表着浪漫情怀，因此成为情人节最受欢迎的花也就不足为奇了。
7. "WEARING YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE" IS MORE THAN JUST A PHRASE.
7. “表露心迹”可不仅仅是个习语
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names to see who their Valentine would be. They would wear the name pinned to their sleeve for one week.
中世纪时，年轻男女通过抽取名字来决定自己的情人是谁。一周时间里，男子衣袖上会绣上女子的名字。
8. MONEY CAN BUY LOVE.
8. 金钱能买来爱情
The average U.S. consumer spent around $102 on Valentine’s Day gifts, meals and entertainment in 2009, according to an annual U.S. National Retail Federation survey. Roughly 92 percent of married Americans with children will spend most of that money (about $67) on their spouse; the rest goes to Valentine’s Day gifts for kids, friends, coworkers and even pets.
美国零售业联合会的一项年度调查显示，2009年，每位消费者在情人节礼物、用餐以及娱乐项目上平均花费102美元左右。已婚且有子女的美国人中，约有92%的人在他们配偶身上花钱最多(约为67美元);其余便是花费在给孩子、朋友、同事、甚至是宠物的情人节礼物上。
9. AMERICANS HAVE A SERIOUS SWEET TOOTH.
9. 美国人真的特别爱吃甜食
According to the National Confectioners Association, about eight billion candy hearts were made in 2009.
美国糖果协会称，2009年，大约生产了80亿颗心形糖果。
10. THE CHOCOLATE BOX HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 140 YEARS.
10. 情人节送盒装巧克力有140多年的历史了
The first Valentine’s Day box of chocolates was introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1868.
第一盒情人节巧克力于1868年出自理查德·吉百利之手。
