Saint valentine, the name of one or two legendary christian martyrs whose lives seem to be historically based. Two of them were executed during the reign of roman emperor claudius gothicus in 269270 a. This fantastic valentine s day activity includes a common corealigned reading on the history of valentine s day. The history of valentine s day is obscure, and further clouded by various fanciful legends. Displaying all worksheets related to valentines day history. There are some suggestions that the holidays roots are in the ancient roman festival of lupercalia, a fertility celebration commemorated annually on february 15. These reading passages celebrate the holiday and some of the greatest lovebirds in literature and history. Valentines day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both christian and ancient roman tradition. Whether you love valentines day or hate it, one things clear. Another famous person from valentine s day that you may be wondering about is cupid latin cupido, desire. Valentines day is celebrated worldwide annually on february 14 and is also called as st. Fun valentines day facts for kids kids play and create. Valentine s day is a holiday celebrated around the world in february. Velntines day history the origin of valentines day.
Valentine was in rome and how the holiday grew from the middle ages through to today. Here, the valentines day history that wouldnt make it into a romcom, featuring a saint, a massacre, and. Worksheets are the story of valentine, the story of valentine, the story of valentine, valentines day work, holiday lessons, scrambled valentines day, valentines day, valentines day reading comprehension work. In roman mythology cupid is the son of venus, goddess of love. Since the 14th century, valentines pairs are formed in england. The encyclopaedia britannica also points out that the custom of exchanging valentines arose. Valentines day being associated with love include shakespeares hamlet and writings by john donne. It has origins in the roman festival of lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities. Denoted as a catholic christians feast day in some western countries, it is the holiday which recognises the religious, cultural and commercial significance of love and romance in many regions globally. But, says professor lisa bitel, few realise that the holiday began as a christian feast day commemorating an ancient martyr named valentinus. But just like many of our holidays, theres a lot more behind it. It falls on february the 14th and is celebrated valentines day.
During the middle ages, valentines day was not associated with flowers, chocolates and gifts, instead it was a day. But the ancient romans had bloodier, drunker and more naked notions to. And while valentines day is now known for kissing, valentines day gifts for him, and hardtoget dinner reservations, the origins of the holiday are far less romantic. Saint valentine s day, commonly shortened to valentine s day, is an annual commemoration held on february 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. Valentines day on february 14th, the world is known by many names like world love day or valentines day. While a young mans fancy may turn to love in the spring, its on everyones mind as february 14th, a. It originated as a western christian feast day honoring one or two early christian martyrs named saint valentine and is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. Cupid, the naked cherub armed with arrows dipped in a love potion, became a popular valentine image.
In fact, valentine s day ranks second only to christmas in number of greeting cards sent. Thats the admission of the encyclopedia americana, article st. Learn about the history of this famous day, and discover some interesting facts in this lesson. Most valentines were hand written until around 1850 when they. Valentines day is promoted mainly by the card and candy industry in scandinavia. English emigrants then took the valentines custom to the united states. Learn more about the history and legends associated with saint valentine. However, the exact history of valentines day is not known because there were three saints with the name.
At the end of the 5th century, lupercalia was replaced by st. On february 14th, men give women chocolate and on march 14th, women give men candy in south korea. Although it is not known whether this legend is factually true, it is a good story anyway. Well probably never be able to disentangle all of the cultural and religious threads in order to reconstruct a complete and coherent story. Valentines day history, origin, why we celebrate, and. A collection of english esl valentine s day worksheets for home learning, online practice, distance learning and english classes to teach about. In japan, only chocolate is given on valentines day.
Valentines day is observed all across the world, and many consider this one of their favorite holidays. Pope gelasius i recast this pagan festival as a christian feast day circa 496, declaring february 14 to be st. The first box of chocolates for made for valentines day was made by richard cadbury in the 1800s. Groundhog day was originally observed on february 14. Origins of the worlds most romantic holiday hearts and flowers, cupids and candy todays symbols of valentine s day are well removed from the circumstances which launched this annual display of overt affection.
The history of valentines day pdf file 2019 daily news. In 2011, iran banned valentine cards, gifts, teddy bears, and other valentine tokens as part of an islamic republic backlash against the spread of western culture. Talk, write and listen this worksheet set includes 6 valentines day activities 1. History of valentine day read online pdf books is a website which provides books, magazines, articles on different interesting topics.
Valentine was killed on the 14th or the 24th of february in the year 269 or 270. During the 1700s, on valentine s day young men wrote the name of their sweetheart on their. The dark origins of valentine s day valentine s day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissyface fealty. It is the earliest example of a written valentine message. In 1415, the duke of orleans in france sent his wife a valentines day letter while he was in prison in the tower of london after the battle of agincourt. The history of valentines day and the story of its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. Valentines day traditions have evolved a lot over the years. Valentines day is not celebrated in february in china. Reading an interesting book not only provides felicity but also enhances knowledge and skill. Some people believe that valentines day is celebrated in the middle of february to remember the anniversary of valentines death which probably occurred around 270 a. Valentines day has been big business since the mid19th century, when american merchants and printers transformed a religious folk tradition into a modern holiday. Nowadays social media sites and mobile phone messages are taking over this role on valentine s day 2008 an estimated 80 million texts were sent between mobile phones, which was six times the number of cards sent by snail mail. As christianity spread, so did the valentines day card.
The day is named after one or more early christian martyrs named saint valentine, and was established by pope gelasius i in 496 ad. For example, in the middle ageswhich lasted from the 5th to 15th centuries in europepeople started exchanging handmade cards with love notes inside. Valentine s day, also called saint valentine s day or the feast of saint valentine, is celebrated annually on february 14. Valentines day used to be an american and european thing, but now it has 1 valentine s day is one of the most famous holidays in the world. Another way of letting someone know you love them on valentine s day is to put an advert in a newspaper. Valentines day is an annual celebration of love and romance that falls every february 14th. The earliest card known to exist was sent in 1415 by charles, duke of orleans, to his wife, while he was imprisoned in the tower of london. And you will know what god expects you to do about it. Valentines past like christmas, easter, halloween, new years and other holidays of this world, st. Today billions of dollars are spent on valentines day. The custom of choosing a sweetheart on this date spread through europe in the middle ages, and then to the early american colonies. Valentines day is named for the martyred christian saint named valentine.
T his valentines day you will probably either send or receive a valentine from someone. The history of valentines day is impossible to be obtained from any archive and the veil of centuries gone by has made the origin behind this day more difficult to trace. Valentines day by toby shaw across the world on february 14th, many flowers, cards and gifts will be exchanged between loved ones, as st. The origins of valentines day lie too far in the past to be sure about everything. More than a billion are expected to be given away in the united states alone. Valentines day, holiday february 14 when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. Celebrated on february 14, valentine is venerated as the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers. As part of the celebration, each girl reportedly wrote her name on a piece of paper and put it in a large container.
On valentines day 2000, the producer of viagra, pfizer, funded an impotence awareness day in britain. There is a lot of debate and disagreement among scholars about the origins of valentines day. We celebrate valentines day on february 14th in honor of st. We do know that february has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that st. Restaurants are filled with men and women eager to celebrate the joy of their togetherness. The real story behind valentines day mark merrills blog. Valentines day history worksheets lesson worksheets. Ever wonder how we came to celebrate valentines day with roses.
It is nice to think of someone who believed in marriage and. It is not exactly known why the 14th of february is known as valentines day or if the noble valentine really had any relation to this day. In the 1980s, diamond companies began promoting jewellery as the gone all over the world. Origins of valentine s day church of god page 3 the month of february, when names of young women were put into a box and drawn out by men as chance directed. English esl valentines day worksheets most downloaded. Historians arent 100% sure about the origins of valentines day, but many believe it all started as the preroman empire ritual known as lupercalia, which sounded like a real hoot.
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