jueves, 31 de enero de 2008
miércoles, 30 de enero de 2008
VALENTINE'S DAY
Valentine's day,14 February,is dedicated to people in love
On 14 February sweetheats celebrate Velentine's day with cards and presents. Cards can be funny,romantic or poetic.Presents can be a box of chocolates,flowers or jewellery. When and where did this festivity star?
The custom of celebrating Valentine's day probably began with the Roman festival of Lupercalia on 15 february.During Lupercalia there were games and dancing.Every young man took the name of a young lady from an urn.TRhe lady was the young man's sweetheart for one year.
With the beginniong of Christianity pagan customs were not permitted,but the festival continued.In the 7th century this festival was called St. valentine's Day.
The origin of the name is still a mystery.Some historians say that the festival took its name from a Christian martyr named Valentine. He died on February in the year 270
Others say Valentine was put in prison by Emperor Claudius because the secretly married young couples.The Emperor did not like these secret marriages.
Some says that Valentine comes from the French word "galantin" ( a gallant or beau)
A legend says that birds begin to mate on 14 February!
The Roman conquerors brought the celebration to England
In England the pagan and Christian customs combined to form the Valentine festivity
The Valentine tradition was popular in Shakespeare's time
Shakespeare's characters Romeo and Juliet are the eternal symbol of love.
In the play Hamlet Ophelia sang this song:
"Tomorrow
St. Valentine's day
All in the morning betime
And I a maid at you
window
To be your Valentine"
In the 17th century London,sweethearts exchanged presents on 14 February.The English settlers took this romantic tradition to the New World.Some settlers made beautiful Valentine's cards by hand.They painted buterflies, flowers, cupids and hearts on the cards,and then wrote original verses
In the 18oo's few people had time to make Valentine's cards.American manufactures printed millions of romantic cards.The most popular cards had moving parts:windows that opened and showed a romantic poem,and little birds that seemed to fly.
After the romantic Valentine,the comic Valentine became popular.It had funny cartoons or grotesque pictures with comic messages
Today there are all types of Valentine's cards:romantic,poetic,comic,grotesque,artisticand handmade!
In 1947 the town of Loveland in Colorado,Usa,became Cupid's residence!In loveland something very unusual happens about two weeks before Valentine's Day.the loveland Post Office recieves more than 3oo,000 Valentine's cards from all over the world The Loveland Post Office cvancels these cards with the Loveland,Colorado cancellation.A picture of Cupid and romantic verses are stamped on the envelope.Then the Valentine's cards are sent addressee.
These are two examples of the Loveland verses:
"Across the lanwe send hugs and kisse.
From the Sweetheart City
" Hope this special day
Come Valentine wishes." "Hope this special day
will make you smile
and the love sent from Loveland
will shorten each mile"
In great Britain it is customary to send an anonymous Valentine's card or present to the person you like or love.The person must guess who wrote it
Today in the United States Valentine's Day has a bigger meaning.On this day you can send a card or a present to a parent,grandparent,relative or a friend.Valentine's Day is a occasion to express or affection to anyone.
In elementary school American boys and girls write cards to their favourite classmates.Then they put them into a big box in the school hall.In the afternoon there is a Valentine's Day party.The teacher takes the cards out of the box and gives them to the children.This is always an exciting moment! Children like counting their cards,but some remain anonymous or write " From a Secret Admirer"
In American high schools and universities there is a "Sweethearts' Ball" on the evening of 14 February.For the " Sweethearts' Ball"the hall is decorated with red hearts and cupids! Some people have parties at home to celebrate this day dedicated to love.
In the USA,the top of the Empire State Building in New York City is iluminated with red lights to celebrate Valentine'
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
Fill in the gaps with the correct word
-------------------------------------
presents settlers Hamlet anyone printed love Roman mystery
unusual cards
a.Sweethearts celebrate Valentine's Day with........................and..................................
b.Lupercalia was a .........................festival celebrated on 15 February
c.The origin of the name Valentine is still a .....................................
d.Valentine's Day is mentioned in Shakespeare's play...................................
e. The English................................took the Valentine tradition to the New Wor
f. In the 1800's American manufacturers..............................millions of Valentine's cards
g. The town of Loveland in Colorado,offers a very...............................service
h. In the United States,Valentine's Day is an occassion to express..........................or affection
to.........................................
USE THE PREPOSITIONS TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES
_______________________________________________________
out on from to with of in into
a.Every young man took the name of a young lady..................................an u
b.A legend says that birds begin to mate.............................14 February
c. The English settlers took the romantic tradition..........................the New World.
d. A picture......................Cupid and romantic verses are stamped on the envelope
e. The children put the cards.....................a big box.
f. There is a party..................the afternoon
g. The teacher takes the cards.................................of the box.
h. For the "sweethearts' Ball the hall is decorated.....................red hearts and cupids.
.
martes, 29 de enero de 2008
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