Learn English vocabulary with this story. Remember, double-click on any word to find an instant definition.
From Julie and Truus Continuing to teach vocabulary and customs through holiday traditions
Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the English-speaking countries, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or giving candy, especially chocolate.
Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.
One of the Valentine legends is that in the third-century, a certain priest named Valentine persisted in performing marriage ceremonies despite a ban by the Roman emperor Claudius II (Claudius was persuaded that single men made better soldiers for his army). Thrown into jail, Valentine formed a relationship with his jailor's daughter (some say he cured her blindness) and he signed his last message to her "From your Valentine," a phrase which is still widely used today. St. Valentine was executed on February 14.
To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
—William Shakespeare , Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5
The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models.
The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th century America has now given way to general greeting cards rather than declarations of love. The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women.
In some other countries, Valentine’s Day is known as: France: "Saint Valentin" Spain: "San Valentín" but in Catalonia "La Diada de Sant Jordi" Denmark and Norway: "Valentinsdag" Sweden: "Alla hjärtans dag" (All Hearts' Day) Finland: "Ystävänpäivä" (Friend's day) Estonia: "Sõbrapäev" (Friend's day)"
You want to surprise your own Valentine?
Try these delicious recipes
And check this great Valentine’s page
HALVES Find the 10 words by putting the correct halves together.
