VALENTINE'S DAY

• 14th February• Candy, flowers, and chocolates• Who is St Valentine?

• Roots in Christian and Roman tradition

LEGEND 1

• Valentine was a priest• 3rd cent., Rome• Caesar wanted all young men to be

soldiers• Valentine disagreed and secretly

performed marriages• Valentine was killed

LEGEND 2

• Valentine was a prisoner• He sent the 1st Valentine’s letter• Signature was: ‘FROM YOUR VALENTINE’’

• We cannot know which legend is true

WHY 14TH FEBRUARY?

• In memory of Valentine's death • Pagan festival• The beginning of spring

GREAT BRITAIN

• 17th century• All social classes • Giving each other gifts or notes • The end of the 18th century - printed

cards

AMERICA

• The middle of the 19th cent – Valentine cards

• Today - 1 billion Valentine cards • Valentine’s Day = the 2nd largest

card sending holiday

WHERE IS VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATED?

• Canada • Mexico • Australia • Becoming popular around Europe

• The oldest card is in British Museum, London

• ½ of the Americans buy Valentine cards

SLOVENIA

• Valentine’s Day is a new thing• GREGORJEVO - 12th March• The beginning of spring• ‘Birds get married on GREGORJEVO

• Not all celebrate• Some buy small gifts• Gifts for everyone they find special• Flowers, chocolates, cards, soft

toys…

DO YOU CELEBRATE?

• Invented by florists?• You decide for yourself if you want to

celebrate

• NOT THE ONLY DAY YOU SHOW YOUR LOVED ONES THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THEM!