農(nóng)歷7月初七，傳說是牛郎織女鵲橋相會的日子，這個美麗浪漫的愛情故事，流傳了上千年。隨著洋節(jié)“情人節(jié)”在中國的廣泛接受，有不少學者和專家呼吁，把農(nóng)歷7月7日定為中國的“情人節(jié)”。雖然這一呼吁并未得到官方認可，但是，在民間，特別是年輕人中，已經(jīng)把它看作是隆重的節(jié)日。這一新興的節(jié)日氛圍，得到商家的推波助瀾，玫瑰花、卡片紛紛“粉墨登場”，使節(jié)日頗為“半官方化”。即使官方想扼殺，也扼殺不了了，默認已經(jīng)成為不爭的事實。
其實，呼吁中國的“情人節(jié)”，是呼吁中國的傳統(tǒng)文化，是呼吁牛郎織女那種堅貞愛情觀的回歸，對于構建和諧社會，是一種有積極意義的事情。
不被官方認可的原因是存在一個誤區(qū)：在中國傳統(tǒng)文化和當今道德觀中，主流社會是不接受“情人”這個概念的。不知道是翻譯的問題，還是中國文字的差別所致，如果當初把此節(jié)日翻譯為“愛人節(jié)”，也許就不會被大多數(shù)中國人的意識形態(tài)所排斥。在中國人的眼里，“情人”似乎就是婚外戀。其實，英文字的原義和中國人所理解的婚外戀有天壤之別。
僅舉其由來的版本之一：Valentine's day是情人節(jié)在英語里的叫法。字根是古羅馬文，是一個人的名字。這里面隱藏著一個動人的故事。
大約在公元三世紀的羅馬，那時愷撒已經(jīng)死去快三百年了，暴君Claudius當政。當時，羅馬內外戰(zhàn)爭頻仍，民不聊生。為了補足兵員，將戰(zhàn)爭進行到底，Claudius下令，凡是一定年齡范圍內的男子，都必須進入羅馬軍隊，以生命為國家效勞。自此，丈夫離開妻子，少年離開戀人。于是整個羅馬便被籠罩在綿長的相思中。對此，暴君大為惱火。為了達到自己的目的，他竟然下令禁止國人舉行結婚典禮，甚至要求已經(jīng)結婚的毀掉婚約。
然而，暴政禁止不了愛情。就在暴君的國都里，居住著一位德高望重的修士，他就是Valentine修士。他不忍看到一對對伴侶就這樣生離死別，于是為前來請求幫助的情侶秘密地主持上帝的結婚典禮。一時間，這一令人振奮的消息在整個國度傳開，更多的情侶秘密地趕來請求修士的幫助。
但是，事情很快還是被暴君知曉了，于是他再一次顯示了殘暴面目——將修士打進大牢，最終折磨致死。修士死的那一天是2月14日，公元270年的2月14日。
人們?yōu)榱思o念這個敢于與暴君斗爭的人，漸漸地使得2月14日成為一個節(jié)日。很多世紀過去了，人們再也記不得Claudius的大名，再也記不得他的權杖與寶劍，但依然會紀念Valentine修士，因為那個日子是Valentine's day,是情人節(jié)。
而中國的牛郎織女的愛情故事，也絲毫與“婚外戀”風馬牛不相及。這個流傳上千年的傳說更加浪漫，富有中國傳統(tǒng)的浪漫主義色彩，表達著農(nóng)耕時代中國人豐富的想象力和堅貞的愛情觀。美麗動人的故事，讓外國人都感到驚奇，并深深為其堅貞的愛情所感動。我在英國留學時，把這個故事講給金發(fā)碧眼的同班同學和當?shù)剜従勇?，他們無不被打動。連連稱贊應當紀念這個中國人的美麗愛情傳說。可見，人類對美好的事情，感覺是相通的。
既然翻譯成“情人節(jié)”已經(jīng)約定俗成，既然與“婚外戀”不相干，那么，讓中國的“情人節(jié)”走向世界則有著深遠意義，第一，可以傳播中國的優(yōu)秀傳統(tǒng)文化，提升中國文化在世界范圍的地位。第二，可以弘揚堅貞的愛情觀，促進家庭和社會和諧。當然，要走向世界，還需要所有中國人的助推。只要大家都在心理認可這個節(jié)日，并紀念這個節(jié)日，中國的“情人節(jié)”就有了深厚的根基，就一定能走向世界。
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Let Chinese Valentine’s Day Go To the World
By Wang Yongli
The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the day that the cowherd and weaving maid meet on the magpie bridge. According to legend, the once-happy couple, became stars separated by the Milky Way, and could meet only once a year when magpies flew together to form a bridge over the galaxy. This beautiful and romantic love story was passed down for thousands of years. But in recent years, "Chinese Valentine's Day" has been widely accepted by Chinese people and has become a young people’s festival. Many scholars and experts have called for the lunar event to be officially established as “Chinese Valentine's day". Although this appeal has not been officially recognized, among the people in big cities, young people especially have viewed it as a grand festival. This new atmosphere of the festival is adding fuel to the flames of merchants. As a result, thanks to the roses and cards in succession, on "stage", the festival becomes “half official". Even if the authorities want to deny it, it is impossible to stop “Chinese's Valentine's day". By default it has become an indisputable fact.
In fact, advocating “Chinese Valentine's Day", is calling for Chinese traditional culture and calling for a return to a steadfast view of love just like how the cowherd and the weaving maid loved each other so deeply. It is of a positive significance for the building of a harmonious society.
Why is “Chinese Valentine's Day not accepted by the authorities? I think that there might be a misunderstanding. In Chinese traditional culture and moral values, especially in the mainstream society, the concept of a "lover" is not accepted. I don't know how the name of “Valentine's Day” is translated into Chinese as “Lovers Day”, but “Lover” in Chinese phrasing has a different meaning. If the phrase had not been translated as "Lovers’ Day", the majority of Chinese ideologists would not reject it. In the eyes of Chinese people, “l(fā)over" seems equal to an extramarital affair, and is the "second breast". In fact, the word “l(fā)over” in the original English meaning is quite different from what Chinese understand as "second breast".
There is only one version of its origin: Lover's Day is Valentine's Day in English. The root is from ancient Rome and Valentine (Valentinus) is the man’s name. A moving story is hidden inside the phrase.
Around the Third Century AD in Rome, Caesar died. Nearly three hundred years later, the tyrant Claudius was in power. At that time, inside and outside Rome wars were happening with increasing frequency and the people were destitute. To complement the troops and put the war to an end, Claudius ordered that a certain age range of man should be enrolled into the army, and should serve the country. From then on, many husbands left their wives, and young men left their young lovers. Thus the whole of Rome was shrouded, lingering in the acacia. In this regard, the tyrant became enraged. In order to achieve his goal, he ordered a ban that all the people of the country were not allowed to have the wedding ceremony, he even asked the engaged lovers to destroy the marriage agreement.
However, the tyrant could not ban love. Under his tyranny, in the countryside, there lived a noble character, a high prestige monk. He was Valentine. He could not bear to see the pairs of lovers were parted in life and separated by death. Therefore his help was requested by couples to secretly preside over the wedding in front of the god statue. For a time, this exciting news spread throughout the country and more couples rushed in secret to request his help.
However, the tyrant became quickly aware of these things, and once again showed his brutal nature. He put the monk into prison and eventually tortured him to death. The monk Valentine died on the day 14 February AD 270.
People commemorated the courageous monk who dared struggle with the tyrant, so gradually set 14 February as a holiday. Many centuries later, people forgot Claudius, and cannot remember his scepter and sword, but people still commemorate the monk Valentine, because that day is Valentine's Day, and it is also called Lover's Day.
However, the love story of China's cowherd and weaver, did not have any relevance or relationship whatsoever with extramarital affairs, or "second breast". The legend had spread for thousands of years and is more romantic, full of Chinese traditional romanticism. It expresses agrarian times with rich imagination and a faithful love view. The beautiful and moving story has left foreigners surprised and deeply touched. When I was studying in the UK, I told the story to my blonde classmates and local neighbors. All of them were moved. They again and again praised the beautiful Chinese love legend. So it is visible, as human beings, all of us seem to seek the same good things, where our feelings are interlinked.
Since "Valentine's Day" has been imported into China, since it has nothing to do with extramarital affair and the "second breast", we should let “Chinese Valentine's Day", with it’s profound meaning go to the world. It can spread excellent traditional Chinese culture, and promote and lift its position. It can promote faithful love, and promote family and social harmony. Of course, letting “Chinese Valentine's Day" go to the world requires all Chinese people to boost and push it forward. As long as everyone accepts this festival, and marks the festival, “Chinese Valentine's Day" will grow deep roots, and certainly will move toward the world.
