Valentine's Day, a Romantic Time in Washington DC
Robin Rupli

The origin of the ancient holiday, Valentine's Day (情人节), isn't known for certain. Some authorities trace it to（追溯到） a martyr in the early Christian Church St. Valentine, who secretly helped young couples to marry. Another version traces it to an ancient Roman festival linked to fertility; still others believe it has to do with（和……有关） birds who mate in the spring. Today Valentine's Day, which falls every February 14 is largely associated with（和……相关联） romantic love. Alison Novella is a holiday expert with Hallmark cards in Kansas City, Missouri. She says Valentine's Day, the second biggest card exchanging time of the year, has been emerging into something broader.

"I think Valentine's Day used to be thought of in more of a narrow sense by consumers and used to be what I term as an exclusive holiday, in that people used to think, 'well, I don't have a love relationship in my life this Valentine's Day, so I won't be buying any cards and I won't be receiving any cards.' But when you broaden it, and you think about it, and you think about it as a day to really express affection and respect and love for all the people in your life, then anyone can give or receive ten or fifteen Valentines this year."

It is evident by looking at the cards in the Trover Book Shop on Capitol Hill that what Ms. Novella says is true. In addition to cards expressing romantic love are cards wishing Happy Valentine's Day to Mom or Dad, to Grandma; the babysitter; for someone special; even a valentine from the dog. Joshua Anderson is a clerk in the Trover Shop. He talks about the Valentine business this year.

"Right after February began it was very good. And then it tapered off（逐渐减少） for a few days and a couple of days then it's been steadily increasing. And we suspect that it will continue to increase up to the 14. And probably even the 15 and 16 that people realize, 'Oops! I didn't get my wife (or whomever) anything and have to come running in and get something.'"

Valentine's Day is also one of the busiest times of year for florists（花商）, candy merchants, even diamond salesmen. Hotels have also gotten in on（利用） the act in recent years, by offering Valentine's Day specials, of reduced room rates, complimentary champagne（免费的香槟酒） and an extended check-out period.

One place which may be one of the most romantic places in Washington for couples in love is the bar inside Washington's historic Mayflower Hotel. Antique fixtures and overstuffed chairs fill the dark wood-paneled（嵌镶木板的房间） room, providing a kind of living room atmosphere. The tinkling（音乐的丁丁声） of romantic music is provided by Dan Ruskin, who has been playing piano at the Mayflower for more than two decades. Here are some of his observations.

"These days everybody's in love. You see them coming in, they put down their briefcases where they have been probably arguing over the budget and all of a sudden（突然） could be the music, (it) could be something in the air they start gazing deep into each other's eyes. And everything falls away. And it's kind of victory of hope over common sense, I think! And when they want to hear a song, they write it down on a little one of these cocktail napkins and they just bring it up." “What are some of the songs you have there?” “Well, of course, each day is Valentine’s Day is the point. You could get a lot of requests for My Funny Valentine, but this year, everybody wants, As Time Goes By.”

“Would you mind playing me a few bars（音乐或歌曲的小节） of that?” “In new years at the Mayflower have you ever witnessed people getting engaged , people breaking up or what kind of things you see couples doing as an observer here at the piano？”

"And you know, Robin, I'm more than an observer," says Dan Ruskin. "As the 'captain' of this piano bar, I may not be unlike a preacher, you know, who can say the magic words. You see lots and lots of people who come back every year on that one day when they met, and celebrate, or rekindle the magic that they had. I would say I can name a dozen people who through the years have gotten married to this kind of romantic music and this romantic ambiance（浪漫的气氛） that we have in here. And you look at them, you know their favorite songs. You know people who want to hear, It Had to Be You, you know people who want to hear, Some Enchanted Evening. A lot of calls for What's New this year.” “What’s new?” “Yes, you remember that one?” All the romance, the optimism of love, I just get the fair amount myself.

That’s Dan Ruskin, pianist at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel, playing music for Valentine’s Day observers who want to express feelings of love or perhaps just a simple greeting to inquire what’s new.