Valentine's day (0)

Valentine ’s Day is a holiday , which is celebrated on the 14th February . This holiday is named after a priest Valentine. The holiday is celebrated almost everywhere around the world. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other , sending cards. On this day people show how much they care about their friends . Usually on this day people gift hand -made cards and roses . Nowadays people can also send e-cards. Modern Valentine symbols include the heart -shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. The traditional Valentine’s colours are pink and red. On that day people should were pink and red clothes. In different countries there are different traditions on Valentine’s Day.
History
There are many versions of the history of Valentine’s Day.
One version is that there was a priest named Valentine who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base . Supposedly, Valentine decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death .
Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first 'valentine' himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it 'Your Valentine', words still used on cards today.
Probably we’ll never know which of the versions the right one is.
Traditions
Weeks before the 14th February, shop windows are decorated with red paper hearts, red streamers and boxes of chocolates. People bake heart-shaped cakes. Many couples go dining to restaurants.
On Valentine’s Day people give each other presents and flowers. Young people make beautiful cards and give them to friends. Needless to say, it’s particularly young people who looked forward to St. Valentine’s Day, hoping to receive many cards. Originally hand-made and decorated with pictures of hearts, flowers, birds and lots of lace, they are traditionally sent anonymously, even going so far as to disguise handwriting or posting in another town. The modern Valentine card is big business and shops selling greetings cards will start stocking up soon after Christmas. There is still a large market for the flowery, sentimental card, but many modern cards tend to the " cute " style and there is always a market for the humorous insult.
On Valentine’s Day children organize parties . They decorate dance halls with paper hearts and with red balloons . There can make photos with you’re friend . Students play different games and sing Valentine’s songs . Often children are dressed to red or pink, because these are Valentine’s colours.
Valentine’s Day in different countries
Japan
Valentine’s Day celebrations in Japan are a different affair. Here ladies buy chocolate for men. One type of chocolate which is called by the name, kiri- choco is bought for friends and close relatives. It has no romantic significance at all but the chocolate with the name of hon-mei which is specifically bought for a boy friend, beloved or husband and is a gift stimulated by romance. Then after one month later it is the turn of the men to give in return. It is March 14th (the White Day).
Australia
In Australia during the gold rush, miners who were flushed with new found wealth from the Ballarat mines were willing to pay a pricey sum for elaborate valentines. Merchants in Australia would send orders of a thousand pounds at a time.
The most extravagant of valentines were made of a satin cushion , perfumed, ornately designed with flowers, colored shells, and would also have a taxidermy humming bird or bird of paradise adorning it. This was all contained in a neatly decorated box which was considered of high standing, fashionable and most expensive.
Valentine’s Day sentence is: ”I Love you”.
In different languages it is:
German : Ich liebe Dich.
Italian : ti amo.
Spanish : Te quiero.
Japanese : Kimi o ai shiteru.
French: Je t' aime .
Finnish: Mina rakastan sinua .
Bulgarian: Obicham te.
Thai: Khao Raak Thoe.
Valentine’s Day in Estonia.
Valentine’s Day arrived in late 1980’s to Estonia. First it was celebrated only in schools and kindergartens. Children sent Valentine’s cards to teachers. But it came popular with older people, too.
In schools children paste little paper hearts on their cheeks. Children give as a gift each other teddy bears and chocolate boxes. Middle - aged people often gift red roses.
In Estonia there’s now a new custom : Valentine cards contest.
Valentine’s Day in Estonia is celebrated to remember good friends.
Poems and jokes
Be My Valentine
A man walks into a post office one day and sees a middle-aged, balding man standing at the counter methodically placing "Love" stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes out a perfume bottle and starts spraying scent all over them.
His curiosity gets the better of him; he goes up to the balding man and asks him what he is doing. The man says , "I'm sending out 1,000 Valentine cards signed, 'Guess who?'"
"But why?" asks the man.
"I'm a divorce lawyer," the man replies.
A Mommy Moment
Four - year -old Mitch loved candy almost as much as his mom Ann did. He and Daddy had given her a beautiful heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. A few days later Mitch was eyeing it, wishing to have a piece of it. As he reached out to touch one of the big pieces, Ann said to him, "If you touch it, then you have to eat it. Do you understand ?"
"Oh, yes," he said, nodding his head. Suddenly his little hand patted the tops of all the pieces of candy. "Now I can eat them all."
Wherever I May Go
You’re in my thoughts and in my heart
Wherever I may go;
On Valentine’s Day I’d like to say
I care more than you know.
Valentine Gift
On Valentine’s Day,
I’m thinking about
the special ways
you have made my life better.
The little things,
the not-so-little things...
Your kindness ,
the way you always listen
and pay attention to me.
You make my world
brighter and richer.
You’re a gift to me,
and I thank you
for being you.
Valentine’s Day is one of the most celebrated days in the world. On this day everyone makes gifts and send cards to their friends. Hand-made cards are the most beautiful. In some countries it isn’t very old holiday, like in Estonia. On this day nobody should fight . It is the day of love. It is usual to buy chocolate boxes to you’re friend; mostly men give it to women. But in Japan it is conversely. There are a lot of poems and jokes for Valentine’s Day. It is nice to write them on the card. Everyone likes 14th February: it is sweet, lovely and full of love.
Used material:
http://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentinip%C3%A4ev
http://miksike.ee/documents/main/lisa/pidu/valentinipaev/valentin.ht m
http://www.holidays.kaboose.co m
http://stvalentines.net
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