Valentine's Day

       

                                                                                                                                                              Every February 14th, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?

The first legend, and perhaps the best known, began in Rome, when the Emperor, Claudius II, was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. “Claudius the Cruel” as he was called, was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. So, he cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome!

The good Saint Valentine, who was a priest in Rome, in the year 269 A.D., together with his friend Saint Marius, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.
When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was sentenced to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. 
 
But while in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have been his jailor's daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death on the 14th day of February, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed

" From your Valentine" 
In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine.

 Another legend says that Valentine's Day started ...
 in ancient Rome, on February 14th, a holiday to honor Juno. Juno was the  Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. Then, the following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia. 
 
In those days, the lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, on the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now ... well .. you know the rest.

A. Vocabulary 

1.mysterious (adjective)--strange,not known or not understand

    He died in mysterious circumstances.

2.confinement (noun)--the situation in which a person or animal is kept somewhere,usually by force/ imprisonment

    She spent most of those years under house arrest or close confinement.

3.Lupercalia--an ancient Roman festival of purification and fertility, held annually

    February 15 was the date of the Roman festival of Lupercalia.
 

B. Questions

1.Emperor Claudius had vast armies. His armies were 

      a.huge.

      b.brave.

      c.tired. 

2.The soldiers were homesick. They 

      a.wanted to get away from home.

      b.missed their families

      c.had fevers and headaches.
3.The emperor banned marriages. He made 

      a.married people wear wedding bands.

      b.all his soldiers get married.

      c.marriage illegal.
4.Valentine was called "Father Valentine" because he was
     a. a Christian priest.

     b. the "father" of Valentine's Day,

     c. an older man who young people liked.
5.Claudius arrested Valentine because 

     a. his men liked Valentine better than Claudius.

     b. Valentine helped people get married.

     c. Valentine refused to join the army.
6.While Valentine was in prison (jail), his friends 

     a. tried to help him escape.

     b. brought him food and sweets

     c. threw notes through his window.
7.Many people felt gratitude towards Valentine. They were 

     a. thankful for his help.

     b. scared he would get them in trouble.

     c. sad that he was in prison.
8.February 14 is the day Valentine was executed or 

     a. born.

     b. killed.

     c. released from prison.
9.Valentine gave the very first Valentine card to 

     a. friends at church.

     b. soldiers he had helped.

     c. the jailer's daughter.
10.Giving Valentine's cards is a tradition. A tradition is 

     a. what most people do every year.

     b. a story that is true.

     c. something that people do in secret.

D.Conversation Questions

1.What is Valentine's Day?

2.What is the origin of Valentine's Day? (Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day?)

3.Is Valentine's Day celebrated in your country?

4.How is Valentine's Day celebrated in the United States?

5.How do children celebrate Valentine's Day in school?

6.What do you usually do for Valentine's Day?

7.What do you plan on doing this Valentine's Day?

8.Do you make any special food for Valentine's Day?

9.On Valentine's Day, is it more common for men to give gifts to women or for women to give gifts to men?

10.What are common gifts that people give on Valentine's Day?

11.What is your favorite Valentine's Day memory?

12.What is your Valentine's dream? If you could do anything or receive anything on Valentine's Day, what would it be? 

13.Do you think Valentine's Day makes single people feel lonely?

14.Do you think Valentine's Day is too commercial or consumerist?