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St.Valentine"s Day is celebrated on February 14 in Europe and in the USA. Traditionaly lovers express their love to each other by sending Valentine"s cards. People usually give each other sweets and flowers.

True/False 1. Lovers exchange of romantic cards (valentines), flowers, and other gifts. 2. St. Valentine is believed to have been a Roman priest. 3. St. Valentine was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. 4. «Be my Valentine» means «be my love».

Legends about St.Valentine: Valentine lived in the time of Roman Empire. It is unsure who St. Valentine was, but there are several possible candidates. One of these Valentines is believed to have been a Roman priest and he married young couples against the law. The Emporior of Rome believed that unmarried soldiers were better warriors, but Valentine helped lovers. He was put into prison by roman authorities for his actions and was beheaded on February 14 in the third century A. D. According to the legend he performed a miracle -he cured the blindness of his jailer"s daughter. Before the execution, he wrote her a letter signed «From Your Valentine».

Questions: Thin questions Who is Valentine? What did he do ? When did he live ? Where do people celebrate St.Valentines Day ? Thick questions Why do people celebrate St.Valentines Day? Explain why do people show their love like that only 1 time a year ? What is the most important idea of St. Valentine"s Day celebration? What is the difference between celebration of this holiday in Europe and in Russia ?

Proverbs about love in English language: 1.Love and a cough cannot be hidden. 2.Alls fair in love and war. 3.Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. 4.Love is blind. a.Лучше любить и потерять, чем не любить никогда. b.В любви и на войне все средства хороши. c.Любовь слепа. d.Любовь и кашель не утаишь.

St. Valentine’s Day comes on February 14. It is widely celebrated among people of all ages. Valentine’s Day is a time when people in love express their feelings to those whom they love or adore . Some people give greeting cards, flowers, chocolates, perfumes or jewelry to their admirers or partners while others take their loved ones for a romantic dinner at a restaurant or even propose to get married .

Valentine’s Day cards are the most popular gifts. They can be ready-made or hand-made . Also Valentine’s cards can be pink or red-coloured and some of them can be heart-shaped. Some valentines are very fancy; they are decorated with ribbons , paper lace and images of cupids . A card can be different; it can be sentimental with love poetry, friendly or satirical.

The origins of this day are not clear. Some sources believe that it stems from the story of St Valentine, a Roman priest who was executed on February 14, around 269 C.E. According to one legend, Valentine served as a priest during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he forbade marriage for young men. Valentine disobeyed the order of Emperor Claudius II and secretly married young couples anyway . When Valentine’s actions were discovered, he was sentenced to death. In prison he fell in love with his jailer ’s daughter who visited him during his confinement . Just before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From Your Valentine”.

Today, St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of love, young people, happy marriages and the holiday was named after him. St. Valentine’s Day is a good day for parties. The restaurants and clubs are decorated with red and pink paper hearts. Chocolate, candies and cookies are often cut in the shape of hearts.

Перевод текста St. Valentine’s Day. День Святого Валентина

День Святого Валентина празднуют 14 февраля. Он широко празднуется людьми разного возраста. День Святого Валентина – это время, когда влюбленные выражают свои чувства тем, кого любят или обожают. Некоторые люди дарят своим поклонникам или партнерам поздравительные открытки, цветы, шоколадные конфеты, духи или ювелирные украшения, в то время как другие приглашают своих возлюбленных в ресторан на романтический ужин или даже предлагают пожениться.

Валентинки – самые популярные подарки. Они могут быть готовые или сделаны своими руками. Также, валентинки могут быть розового или красного цвета, а некоторые из них могут быть в форме сердца. Некоторые валентинки очень необычные; они украшены лентами, кружевами из бумаги и рисунками амуров. Открытка может быть разной; она может быть сентиментальной с любовными стихами, дружелюбной или сатирической.

Истоки происхождения этого дня не ясны. Некоторые источники считают, что это связанно с историей Святого Валентина, римского священника, который был казнен 14 февраля, около 269 года н.э. Согласно одной из легенд, Валентин служил священником в третьем веке в Риме. Когда император Клавдий II решил, что одинокие мужчины – лучшие солдаты, чем те, что имеют жен и семьи, он запретил юношам жениться. Валентин ослушался приказа императора Клавдия II и все равно тайно женил молодые пары. Когда действия Валентина были раскрыты, он был приговорен к смертной казне. В тюрьме он влюбился в дочь своего тюремщика, которая во время заключения приходила к нему. Незадолго до своей смерти, он написал ей письмо, которое подписал “От твоего Валентина”.

Сегодня Святой Валентин является покровителем любви, молодежи, счастливых браков, и праздник был назван в его честь. День Святого Валентина – хороший день для вечеринок. Рестораны и клубы украшены красными и розовыми бумажными сердцами. Шоколад, конфеты и печенья часто вырезаны в форме сердца.

Дополнительные выражения

• St. Valentine’s Day – День Святого Валентина
• to express feeling – выражать чувство
• to adore – обожать, покланяться
• jewelry (or jewellery ) – драгоценности, ювелирные украшения
• admirer – поклонник, кавалер
• to get married – выйти замуж, венчаться, жениться
• Valentine’s Day card – валентинка
• valentines – валентинки
• ready-made – готовый, стандартный
• hand-made – сделанный своими руками
• ribbon – лента
• paper lace – кружево из бумаги
• cupid – амур, купидон
• C.E. – год нашей эры
• priest – священник
• anyway – все равно
• jailer – тюремщик, надзиратель
• confinement – тюремное заключение
• Patron Saint – святой заступник, покровитель

St Valentine’s Day

I. Read and translate the texts

St Valentine’s Day comes on February 14. It is a happy little festival for young people. St Valentine is the patron of sweethearts. February 14 is the anniversary of his death.
- It is widely celebrated among people of all ages by exchange of “valentines”. A “valentine” may mean a special greeting-card or a little present. St Valentine’s Day is the time to send little gifts to those you love. Flowers and candy are favourite presents which sweethearts send to each other. Valentine candy is packed in red heart-shaped boxes and sold for this one day.
Valentines are special greeting cards. They are often coloured red, have pictures of hearts. Some “valentines” are trimmed with paper lace and little bows of paper ribbon. They have verses of love poetry printed on them.
- It is a good day for parties, especially by young people. Sandwiches and cakes are often cut in the shape of hearts. Sometimes, a King and Queen of Hearts are chosen for the evening of dance.
- It is a very interesting holiday and many people like to celebrate it.

2.Why do we celebrate this holiday?

We know many legends of how St. Valentine’s Day began.

This is a very popular holiday in Europe and America. It’s a day of love and friendship. We send greetings cards to our sweethearts and friends and ask them “be my Valentine”. It means “be my beloved”, or “be my friend”. We also decorate classrooms with big red hearts and give red roses and sweets to our sweethearts, friends and family.

What’s happened in this day many years ago?

According to one very popular legend, Valentine was a priest in Rome who lived during the

reign of Emperor Claudius II. It was a time of bloody battles. Soldiers were against of bloody battles. They did not want to leave their families and join the army. Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine - a romantic at heart priest, defied this decree of Claudius by secretly arranging marriages of young men and women. When Valentine"s defiance was discovered by the Emperor, he was beaten up and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. Valentine was named a Saint after his death.

Another famous legend on Saint Valentine states that Valentine was an early Christian in Rome who was very popular among children. But this time , Roman regime was not in favor of Christianity. In spite of this , Valentine refused to worship Roman Gods. The Emperor Claudius was angry and put Valentine into prison.
Valentine spent a year in prison during which he was missed a lot by children. Children began to toss loving notes and flowers between the bars of his cell window. So, this legend may explain the tradition of exchanging notes and flowers on Valentine"s Day

Most commonly observed Valentine"s Day tradition and custom is expressing one"s love with an exchange of cards, flowers and gifts. Pampering one"s beloved and making a romantic proposal to one"s sweetheart is the other popular tradition of the festival that celebrates love

3. Symbols of Valentine"s Day .

The most commonly attached Valentine"s Day Symbols are:

Roses, Hearts, Cupids, Lovebirds and Doves . Each of these Valentine"s Day Symbols has an interesting story.

Rose is one of the most popular flowers and one of the most powerful symbols of Valentine"s Day. It is a favorite flower for poets and romantic hearts. It means beauty, passion and love.

Lovebirds & Doves

It is said that blue colored lovebirds got their names because they sit closely to each other just like people who are in love do. People say that lovebirds can"t think of their lives without their mates. Besides, lovebirds are known to keeping in pairs and keeping to themselves just as the young lovers want to live in privacy. Nowadays, lovebirds that are depicted on Valentine"s Day are tiny parrots in bright colors. This is because lovebirds are genetically from parrot family.
About Doves
A special characteristic of doves and pigeons is their extreme loyalty to their mates. Unlike most other animals that go from partner to partner, doves remain with one partner all through their life. This is why, doves are recognized as a symbol of love and loyalty on Valentine"s Day.

According to a myth, Roman Goddess Venus considered dove as sacred because of its fidelity towards mate. Cooing sound made by birds is linked to “love sound” attributed to lovers. For this reason, when lovers talk in flowery and sugary language to each other they are said to be "cooing".

Valentine’s Day Lace

Laces and ribbons are a delicate Valentine"s Day symbol. Their association with love and romance can be traced to ancient times. At that time when kings and knights went to battles their ladylove presented laces to them.

Задания к текстам
I.Answer the questions

1.Where did Valentine’s Day come from?

2.Why is Cupid related to Valentine’s Day?

3.Who was Saint Valentine?

4.Who celebrated Valentine’s Day?

5.What are the most popular items to exchange during Valentine’s Day?

6.What symbols are associated with Valentine’s Day?

7.Why is Valentine’s Day celebrated on February 14 ?

II .Сопоставьте английские пословицы с русским переводом

St. Valentine’s Test

1.Where did St. Valentine live?

a) In Greece b)In Rome c) In Great Britain

2.What date is Valentine’s Day?

a) 15 th of February b) 14 th of February c) 8 th of March

3.How do you spell 14 th ?

a)Forteenth b)Fourtienth c)Fourteenth

4.When St. Valentine was in prison, who did he fall in love with?

a)his prisoner’s daughter b)his prisoner’s wife c) his prisoner’s sister

5.The girl St. Valentine fell in love with was

a)Deaf b)Blind c) Blind and deaf

6.What colour is associated with St. Valentine’s Day?

a)Orange b)Purple c) Red

7.Which Roman God is one of the symbols of St. Valentine’s Day?

a) Eros b) Cupid c) Apollo

8.Which are the most common flowers given on St. Valentine’s Day?

a) Roses b)Sunflowers c) Snowdrops

9.What greeting is often said on this day?

a)Happy love lives! b)Good luck! c)Happy Valentine"s Day!

10.What will you say to your sweetheart?

Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian England.

The Legend of St. Valentine

The history of Valentine’s Day–and the story of its patron saint–is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

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Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most importantly–romantic figure. By the Middle Ages , perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

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Origins of Valentine’s Day: A Pagan Festival in February

While some believe that Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial–which probably occurred around A.D. 270–others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia . Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. They would then strip the goat’s hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood and take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city’s bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage.

Valentine’s Day: A Day of Romance

Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed—as it was deemed “un-Christian”–at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine’s didn’t begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt . (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

Typical Valentine’s Day Greetings

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico , the United Kingdom, France and Australia. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings.

St Valentine’s Day comes on February 14. It is not a legal or national holiday. Banks and offices are not closed, but it is a happy little festival for young people. St Valentine is the patron of sweethearts. February 14 is the anniversary of his death.

It is widely celebrated among people of all ages by exchange of “valentines”. A “valentine” may mean a special greeting-card or a little present. The day is the time to send little gifts to those you love. Flowers and candies are favourite presents which sweethearts send to each other. Valentine candies are packed in red heart-shaped boxes and sold for this one day.

Valentines are special greeting cards. They are often coloured red, have red trimmings and pictures of hearts. Some “valentines” are very fancy, they are trimmed with paper lace and little bows of paper ribbon. They have verses of love poetry printed on them.

It is a good day for parties. The hosts trim the hall with red and white paper hearts. Refreshments are often coloured red. Sandwiches and cakes are often cut in the shape of hearts. Sometimes, a King and Queen of Hearts are chosen during this evening

It is a very interesting holiday and many people like to celebrate it.

День Святого Валентина

День Святого Валентина отмечается 14 февраля. Это не государственный или национальный праздник. Банки и офисы не закрываются в этот день, но это весёлый праздник молодых людей. Святой Валентин является покровителем влюбленных. 14 февраля является годовщиной его смерти.

Этот день широко отмечается среди людей всех возрастов. Они обмениваются "Валентинками". "Валентинка" может означать специальную открытку или маленький подарок. В этот день принято отправлять маленькие подарки тем, кого вы любите. Цветы и конфеты - любимые подарки, которые возлюбленные отправляют друг другу. Конфеты упакованы в красные коробки в форме сердца и продаются специально в этот день.

Валентинки - это также специальные поздравительные открытки. Они часто красного цвета, с красной отделкой и изображениями сердца. Некоторые "Валентинки" очень причудливы, они украшены кружевами бумаги и маленькими бантиками из бумажной ленты. В них напечатаны стихи о любви.

Это хороший день для вечеринок, особенно среди молодежи. Хозяева украшают зал красными и белыми сердцами из бумаги. Напитки и закуски часто красного цвета. Сэндвичи и пирожные часто вырезаны в форме сердца. Иногда, выбираются король и королева сердец.

Это очень интересный праздник и многим людям нравится его отмечать.