Today here in the States is St. Valentine’s Day, and it has already been lunar Lantern Festival in China Mainland and Taiwan.

According to the history documented, St. Valentine is an early Christian martyr, having had little or nothing to do with romances.  In the first place, people memorized him in the form of Valentine Feast on every February 14, and later the day became associated with romance through folk tradition beginning at 14th and 15th century.

By contrast, as early as 11st century in Song Dynasty, at least two great poets lamented the love he lost or delighted himself for the love he found amid the nights of Lantern Festival. 

試譯 歐陽修 生查子·元夕 - kkuo0810的部落格 - udn部落格

試譯 辛棄疾 青玉案 元夕 - kkuo0810的部落格 - udn部落格

So, let us praise Lantern Festival of today and regard it as our own Valentine’s Day.

PS I live in Taipei at Neihu County where there is a tiny "temple" just located before the entrance of Jinlong Tunnel.  The temple is so small that no passers-by, either walking or riding or driving, will notice its existence in ordinary days.  But in the evening of every Lantern Festival, there must have a long queue comprised of young couple, waiting to enter the "temple" to make a wish in front of a Buddha.  Once in the Lantern Festival evening when I drove passing thru the queue, I stopped to ask a young couple what they were wishing for.  The young man told me he would ask Buddha for blessings that their love will have a happy ending.