Arbeitsblatt: Valentine Cards

1. before reading: Read the title. What do you know about Valentines Day Write down ten words which you know about Valentines Day. 2. while reading: Read the text. Use the vocabulary list. Mark everything you understand. Valentines Day Like many other holidays, Valentines Day is thought to be of American origin; but— like many other holidays—it is not. Already in ancient Rome, people celebrated similar holiday in the middle of February. The Valentine celebrations we know today originate in 14th-century England and France. We could indeed say that it was some kind of medieval blind-date show to which single men and women got together on 14 February. The women wrote their names on cards and put them into box from which each man then picked card. The woman whose name was on the card became the mans sweetheart or Valentine, as 14 February is also the commemoration day of St. Valentine (therefore the day is called St. Valentines Day). The date, in fact, is the only connection between the festival and the martyr St. Valentine, Roman priest from the 3rd century. Valentine lived during the reign of Claudius II, who did not allow his soldiers to get married. Claudius believed that married soldiers would not make good army, so when he found out that Valentine married young couples secretly, he arrested the priest and sentenced him to death. Valentines Day has become the festival of love—lovers surprise each other with little presents, flowers or romantic dinner by candlelight. Sending special greeting cards on that day is also very popular. Valentines, as these cards are called, are sent to loved ones or even to secret lovers in order to win their hearts. If the sender doesnt want to be recognised, the card is signed Your Valentine. similar the century medieval to pick the commemoration day the martyr the reign secretly to sentence so. are sent in order to ähnlich Jahrhundert mittelalterlich auslesen, auswählen Gedenktag Märtyrer Regierungszeit heimlich jemanden verurteilen werden gesendet um zu 3. after reading: Check the sentences below. Are they true or false? True False a) Valentines Day was first celebrated in America. b) Claudius II wanted his army to be married. c) Valentines Day is Greek tradition. d) Lovers give little presents to each other at Valentines Day. e) Valentines Day is at 12th February. 4. before writing: • • • • • Think of person you like (a person you know/someone you would like to know). You are going to write Valentine Card to this person. Use the questions below, they give you some ideas about what you can write. You can take notes if you want. What does she/he look like? Where did you meet? How long do you know each other? Is there anything you really like about this person? Is there anything she/he can do very well? 5. writing: Write Valentine Card. Start with Dear Sweetheart and finish with Your secret lover.