The Valentine Vogue

By Leigh Eric Schmidt

Thesis statement and topic sentencesThesis statement:

Para. 1: The thesis statement Not much of a - 不是 什么了不起的 , 称不上 Dwarf-v.( 使 ) 变矮小 Stature-n. 身高 , 身材 , ( 精神、道德等的 ) 高度 The birthday of George Washington, the most important

leader of the American Revolution, was on February 22. That made February 14, St. Valentine’s day, less important.

Transatlantic-adj. 大西洋彼岸的 Dilute-v. 冲淡 , 变淡 , 变弱 , 稀释 The saints’ days are transplanted from England to the

United States, so they have a less religious but more secular meaning for Americans .

Champion-someone who publicly support or defend a set of beliefs, political goals or a group of people

Divination-the practice of finding out about the future by receiving signs from the spirit world

Charm-sth that people believe brings them luck

Dole-vt. 发放救济

St. Agnes was the patron of the children of Mary. Being a Roman girl who dedicated herself to Jesus by declaring that Jesus Christ was her only spouse, she refused many suitors and became a martyr for her Faith at the age of 13. Her feast day is January 21.

St. Anne was born in Constantinople, Turkey. When she was widowed, she assumed a male disguise and the name of Euphemianus and thus entered an abbey on Mount Olympus. Because of her holiness, she was asked to become an abbess but remained in an obscured monastery. Her feast day is October 29.

St. Agen A legend told that she was haled by Dacian, procurator at Agen, France. She was tortured to death for her Christianity. Her feast day is October 6.

St. Simon is the first cousin of Jesus and one of those brethren of Christ who are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as having received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. In the year 66, a civil war broke out in Palestine because of Jewish opposition to Romans. During that time, Christians in Jerusalem were divinely ordered to leave. After the capture and burning of Jerusalem, they returned and settled among the ruins. When the Romans were determined to destruct the race of David, he was crucified, because he was both a Christian and a descendant of David. His feast day is February 18.

According to the New Testament, St. Thomas was a Jew and one of the twelve Apostles. As a dedicated but impetuous Apostle, it was he who persuaded the others to accompany the Christ on the trip to Judea to visit His sick friend Lazarus because the trip might be dangerous and it was he who got the assurance at the Last Supper that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He was called “doubting Thomas,” for he demanded evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus and he was convinced twice on different occasions. It was said that at the dispersal of the Apostles after the Pentecost he was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes and Persians and that he ultimately reached India and carried the Faith to the Malabar coast. He was speared to death at Calamine. He is the patron of architects. His feast day is July 3.

Disciplined- 受过训练的 , 遵守纪律的

Rigor- 严格 , 严厉 , 苛刻 , 严密 , 严酷 , 精确

Timekeeper- 〈体〉计时员 ; 时间准的钟表

Evangelical-[ 常 -ical] 福音派的新教会的 ; 英国低教会派的

Revival-n. 奋兴布道会

Sabbath- 安息日 , 主日 ( 犹太教徒是星期六 , 基督教徒是星期日 )

St. Patrick’s day is observed on March 17. It is traced back to St. Patrick (385-461), the Apostle of Ireland, and probably the most successful missionary in the world. In Ireland, it is mainly a religious holiday while in the U.S., it is observed mainly for fun. The most notable part of the observance is the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City.

Ethnical-relating to group of people who have the same culture and tradition

Para. 2: Before the 1840s the holiday was of little moment in American popular culture, and it could easily pass unnoticed.Make a note of- 记下Typical- 典型的；具有代表性的；象征性的Persistence-n. 坚持 , 持续Imagery- 【修】比喻 ; 直喻 ; 形象化的描述Evoke-vt. 唤起 , 引起 , 博得Minute- 备忘录 , 笔记

Almanacs: a note, a rhyme or two, A poem in 1811: courtship for birdsIn the press: scarce, exclusively British

observanceWoodworth: never practiced in AmericaHarper’s Weekly: explanation of the use of

valentines

How did people relate St. Valentine’s day?

Para. 3:The holiday’s lot improved

dramatically in the 1840s and 1850s Domesticate-introduce into one’s own countryHumbug- 欺骗；诈骗的言行Even in Philadelphia, a city of solemnity, the

celebration of Valentine’s day is acclaimed.More than a little-veryCommonsensical-with sound practical senseCalculate-deliberately intended to get a

particular result

We have become so practical as to give up all the religious holidays, and we care too much about the the efficiency of our daily life.

Lay aside- 把 ... 放在一边 ; 把 ... 搁置起来 Revitalize- 新生 ; 复兴 Respite-n. 暂缓 Whimsy-n. 怪念头 , 奇想 , 任意 Caprice-n. 反复无常 , 任性 , 怪想 Quixotic-adj. 唐吉诃德式的 , 狂想家的 Relish- 含意 , 意味 irony- 讽刺 Infusion- 灌输；浸泡 Facilitate- 推动 , 帮助 , 使容易 , 促进 blessed- 幸福的；快乐的

Para. 4: What made St. Valentine’s Day a fashion in New York, Philadelphia, and an ever-widening circle of places were valentinesInspiration-n. 灵感be defrauded of - 被骗去Rightful- 应得的 ; 合法的；合理的Cultivation- 培养 , 教养 , 耕作Effusion- （感情）迸发Peddler- 小贩 , 传播者

What were the situations in England and the United States?

Valentines in London: The turn of the century: market mid-1820s: 200,000 Late 1840s: doubled 1867: more than a millionIn the United States: 1843: a writer regretting American firms relying on British import and tech 1848: a large Philadelphia establishment At least 11 American business

Para. 5: American interest in this London fashion was, indeed, rapidly accelerating in the 1840s.

Affect- 假装 , 冒充Dimension- 大小 , 范围 , 规模Ascertain- 确定 , 探知Stagger- 摇晃 , 蹒跚 , 交错 , 摇摇摆摆Ardor- 热诚 , 情欲 , 激情 , 热情 , 炽热Ritual- 典礼 , ( 宗教 ) 仪式 , 礼节Enduring-adj. 持久的 , 不朽的

What were the situations in the United States in the 1840s?

New Haven: 1842: 1000 notes 1843: 15,000 1844(the next year): 21,000 1847: 30,000Philadelphia: Dumbfounded: yesterday delivered greater than last

year Market basket---wheelbarrow Number expression

 

Para. 6: Conclusion---The new rituals were built largely on a commercial medium, on the understanding of the valentine as a commodity.

When did the meaning of valentine change?Early modern meaning: IN the 19th century:Generally, a valentine is a commercial

product.