Love is in the air...

Cards, email, phone calls...

How many cards are sent on (or before) Valentine's Day? No-one knows exactly, of course, but it is estimated that it is approximately 1 billion, making Valentine's Day the second most popular card-giving day (after Christmas, of course). Most are sent in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Australia and France, but Valentine's Day is becoming more popular in other countries as well.

 

How did it all start?

The truth is, no-one really knows. There are many legends about Saint Valentine and at least three candidates who could claim to be him. The most popular legend is that Valentine was a priest in Rome in the third century who performed marriages even though the Roman Emperor, Claudius, had banned them because he thought married men would not want to be soldiers; the Emperor had him killed for his disobedience.

 

Valentine's Day traditions

Sending valentine cards - anonymously, of course, and signed simply lFrom Your Valentine' - is the most popular tradition. Flowers, chocolates and presents of all kinds are also given on Valentine's Day. Apart from giving presents, there are many other traditions connected with love, romance and the future. For example, how can you find out how many children you will have? One way is to cut an apple in half; the number of pips you can see is the number of children you will have. Perhaps you would like to know the name of the person you will marry? Think of five or six possible names and recite them as you twist and apple around on its stem. The name you say when the apple comes off its stem is the name of the person you will marry!

 

Around the world

In Sweden Valentine's Day is called Alla hjärtans dag (All Heats' Day) and is celebrated in the same way. In Finland it is called Ystävänpäivä (Friends' Day) and is less of a romantic day and more about remembering your friends. In Japan, Valentine's Day is celebrated by women giving chocolates to men; there is another day (White Day, March 14th) for men to give presents to women.

 

Romance and love, or just great marketing?

Valentine's Day is very popular and is becoming more and more popular. But how far is this a real tradition? The answer, unfortunately, is not very romantic at all: Valentine's Day was popularised by card producers, the diamond industry and flower farmers. In many countries, such as those in the preceding section, there is no local Valentine's Day tradition - in Sweden and Japan, for example, the first Valentine's Days date from the 1960s. In short, Valentine's Day has always been more about making money than love - and there is no denying how successful it has been and, doubtless, it will continue to be in the future.

 

Below are some ideas for romantic gifts. Which do you think are most romantic? Which are least romantic?

o Sending your Valentine a huge bouquet of flowers (perhaps roses).

o Taking your Valentine shopping and letting them choose whatever they like.

o Buying your Valentine some chocolates.

o Leaving one red rose for your Valentine to find.

o Arranging for a singing telegram to surprise your Valentine.

o Buying and sending an anonymous Valentine's Day card.

o Taking your Valentine to an expensive restaurant.

o Taking your Valentine to the cinema.

 

Before you read

Look at the statements about Valentine's Day below. Work in small groups and try to decide if each statement is true (T) or false (F).

1. We know who the original St. Valentine was. T F

2. Valentine's Day is popular in France. T F

3. When you send a Valentine's Day card you do not sign your name. T F

4. In Japan on Valentine's Day women give flowers to men. T F

5. Valentine's Day is the result of very clever marketing. T F

6. Valentine's Day used to be less commercial. T F

 

First reading

Read the text quickly and check to see if you were right. Be careful - the information is not in the same order in the text as in the questions.

 

Second reading

Read the text again and find the answers to the questions below.

1. How many candidates are there who might have been the real St. Valentine?

2. Why were marriages unpopular with Emperor Claudius?

3. What are apples used for in Valentine's Day traditions?

4. Are all Valentine's Days connected with romance and love?

5. Is Valentine's Day a real tradition? Why (not)?

6. Will Valentine's Day lose its popularity in the future?

 

Ten words in the text are underlined. Match them to the definitions below. The first one has been done for you.

1. to try to judge the value, size, speed, cost etc of something, without calculating it exactly answer: ESTIMATE

2. small seeds from a fruit such as an apple or orange

3. used when saying that something is almost certain to happen or be true

4. close to the exact number, amount etc, but could be a little bit more or less

5. something which must not be done, seen, used etc.

6. happening or coming before the time, place, or part mentioned

7. done, sent, or given by someone who does not want their name to be known

8. deliberately not doing what you are told to do by your parents, teacher, government etc.

9. say that something is not true, or that you do not believe something

10. the long thin part of a plant, from which leaves, flowers, or fruit grow (all definitions adapted from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

 

Complete each sentence using a word or phrase from Vocabulary 1, changing the form of the word if necessary.

1. The class just wouldn't do what the teacher asked. They were being extremely ____________________.

2. The letter had no name or address. Whoever had sent it wanted to remain ____________________.

3. When you hold a rose by its ____________________ you have to be careful not to hurt yourself on its thorns.

4. The arrested man ____________________ stealing the car, saying he was at home that evening.

5. Smoking in restaurants is now ____________________ in the UK.

 

Lexis - collocations

For each word below four collocates are given, but only three of them are correct. Work with a partner and try to identify which collocate does not fit well. You may use a dictionary to help you if you wish.

1. ROMANTIC A. supper B. evening C. weather D. atmosphere

2. DINNER A. for two B. candlelit C. time D. drink

3. FLOWERS A. a bunch of B. a set of C. a bouquet of D. a display of

4. CHOCOLATE A. brown B. dark C. milk D. white

5. CARD A. Valentine's Day B. Christmas C. Birthday D. Easter

 

Speaking

Work in a group of three or four. Plan a romantic day for each of the couples below. Think about where they might go, what they might see and so on. Be ready to present your ideas to the rest of the class... two teenagers (16 years old)

an elderly couple (around 60 years old)

business colleagues (in their early thirties)

strangers on a blind date (in their late twenties)