SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY

Saint Valentine's Day, February 14th

is a holiday that celebrates love and

friendship in the United States. Most
people think of it as a romantic day to
show the one you love how much you
care by purchasing cards and
gifts. Valentine's Day is also an extremely
commercial holiday. People spend
money on flowers, balloons, chocolate,
stuffed animals, and jewelry. People also
go out for expensive dinners. Valentine's Day is even celebrated by school
children, who give thank-you cards to their teachers. Some high schools have
Valentine's Day dances. Classmates give each other little cards. These cards can
be purchased at any store with famous cartoon characters. It is considered much
more thoughtful to have kids make handmade cards to give to friends and
teachers.

Valentine's Day is also a great day to announce your love to someone like a secret
crush. Some people even get married on Valentine's Day. However, you don't have
to be in love to share in the festivities. You can say "Happy Valentine's Day" to
friends and coworkers.

Valentine's Day is not an official holiday though in the U.S., meaning government
offices and schools are open as usual. The date used to be the celebration of a
Saint named Valentine who allegedly saved a young girl's life. It wasn't until the
Middle Ages that romance somehow got
mixed in with the date and lovers
would send each other hand written love
notes. Back then you couldn't just go to the
store and buy a card the way you can now.

You know Valentine's Day is around the

corner when stores begin to decorate with
red and pink hearts and the symbol of
Cupid, a winged ancient Roman god said
to strike the hearts of people with his
arrow. Now it seems Cupid goes
straight after your wallet because you will also see many more jewelry ads as
Valentine's Day approaches.

 VOCABULARY REVIEW:

1. Allege: to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving
proof.
2. Announce: to make something known or tell people about something officially.

3. Approach: to come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time,

quality, or amount.

4. Arrow: a weapon that is like a long, thin stick with a sharp point.
 1. balloon ____________________ 12. purchase_________________

2. cartoon_____________________ 13. romance_________________

3. character____________________ 14. romantic__________________

4. chocolate____________________ 15. saint_____________________

5. commercial___________________ 16. secret____________________

6. crush_______________________ 17. somehow_________________

7. cupid_______________________ 18. strike_____________________

8. festivity_____________________ 19. stuff______________________

9. jewelry_____________________ 20. symbol___________________

10. official______________________ 21. Valentine_________________

11. pink________________________ 22. Wallet _______________________

WRITE SENTENCES USING THE VOCABULARY ABOVE:

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
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 Answer the questions:

1. What's the origin of Valentine's Day?

A. Celebrating the love of Adam and Eve.
B. Commemorating the first time Cupid shot his arrows.
C. Celebrating the love of Romeo and Juliette.
D. Commemorating a Saint named Valentine.

2. What do stores do when Valentine's Day is near?

A. Offer discounts to couples.
B. Sell a lot of jewelry at a high price.
C. Decorate the store in red, pink and pictures of cupid.
D. Offer discounts on Valentine's Day cards.
3. When does Valentine's Day take place?
A. It takes place on January 14.
B. It takes place on February 14.
C. It's on second Monday of February.
D. It's on second Sunday of May.
4. Children give ___________ to their teachers and classmates.
A. hand-written love letters.
B. little cards purchased at stores.
C. envelopes with money.
D. beautiful flowers.
5. Which of the following is true?
A. Government offices close on National Holidays.
B. Lovers do not need to work on Valentine's Day.
C. Banks remain open on National Holidays.
D. Government offices close on Valentine's Day.
  LISTEN AND FILL THE GAPS:

Valentine's Day, February 14, is a holiday that love and friendship in the United States.

Most think of it as a romantic day to the one you love how much you

care purchasing cards and gifts. Valentine's Day is also extremely commercial holiday.

People spend money on flowers, , chocolate, stuffed animals, and jewelry. People also

go for expensive dinners. Valentine's Day is even celebrated school children, who give

thank-you cards to their . Some high schools have Valentine's Day dances. give

each other little cards. These cards can purchased at any store with famous cartoon

characters. is considered much more thoughtful to have kids handmade cards to give

to friends and teachers.

's Day is also a great day to announce love to someone like a secret crush.

Some even get married on Valentine's Day. However, you 't have to be in love to share

in festivities. You can say "Happy Valentine's Day" to and coworkers.

Valentine's Day is not an official though in the U.S. meaning government offices

and are open as usual. The date used to the celebration of a Saint named Valentine

who saved a young girl's life. It wasn't until Middle Ages that romance somehow got

mixed in the date and lovers would send each other love notes. Back then you

couldn't just go the store and buy a card the way can now.

You know Valentine's Day is around corner when stores begin to decorate with red pink

hearts and the symbol of Cupid, a ancient Roman god said to strike the hearts people

with his arrow. Now it seems Cupid straight after your wallet because you will also many

more jewelry ads as Valentine's Day approaches.