St. Valentine's Day
Γράφει η Αγγελική Καραβά, εκπαιδευτικός της Αγγλικής Φιλολογίας
One of the most popular customs in England is on 14th February One story of the origins of Valentine's Day comes from the time of the Roman Empire, under the rule of Emperor Claudius the Second. Because few soldiers wanted to fight in the Roman wars, Claudius had a difficult time to get soldiers to join his army. He believed that Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. During this time a Christian priest named Valentine decided to defend love in the empire. Valentine began to secretly marry couples despite the emperor's orders. When Emperor Claudius heard about this he sent Valentine to prison where he stayed until his death on February 14 in the year 270.
In Wales, young men and women carve wooden spoons and give them as gifts. Hearts, keys and keyholes are favourite decorations on the spoons, meaning “You unlock my heart.” Flowers are the most common gift, a dozen red roses or (more romantically and cheaper) just one red rose.
Valentine's Day celebrations in Japan are a different affair. Here ladies buy chocolate for men. Then one month later it is the turn of the men to give in return. It is March 14th (the White Day), when men give gifts of chocolate to all the ladies who remembered them on Valentine's Day.
Now here are some pictures from our work in class on this beautiful day!!
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!
