he pudgy, winged son of venus, the goddess of love. in roman lore, cupid is known as eros, the son of aphrodite. in the united states and canada, children exchange valentines with their friends. in some schools, the children hold a classroom party and put all the valentines into a box they have decorated. at the end of the day, the teacher or one child distributes the cards. many children make their own valentines from paper doilies, red paper, wallpaper samples, and pictures cut from magazines. sometimes they buy kits that include everything needed to make valentines. many children send their largest, fanciest cards to their parents and teachers.

　　in europe, people celebrate valentine`s day in many ways. british children sing special valentine`s day songs and receive gifts of candy, fruit, or money. in some areas of england, people bake valentine buns with caraway seeds, plums, or raisins. people in italy hold a valentine`s day feast.

　　valentine`s day曾是英国人喜爱的节日，随着新大陆的开发，英国移民把这一富有浪漫色彩的节日带到了北美，逐渐在美国生根开花。

　　年轻人是圣valentine节当之无愧的主角，他们要在这一节日里郑重其事地为恋人选择礼物、赠送鲜花，表达自己的爱慕之情。痴情的姑娘可能会按照古老的传说，在圣valentine节前夜把月桂树叶放在枕头上，盼望在梦中同自己的心上人相会。

　　现在情人节已经不单是情人们的节日，也是各种朋友之间交换感谢的一个日子，是一个大众化的节日。情人节这一天，不仅仅情侣们互赠卡片和礼物，人们也给自己的父母、老以及其他受自己尊敬和爱戴的人赠礼物和卡片。valentine`s day就是这样一个充满爱情和友谊的欢乐节日。