Saint Valentine’s Day
Words
a priest
an emperor
approximately
to fall in love
handsome
fertility
to dedicate
jar
prim
confession
to please
to dry
bridegroom
Easter
to prohibit= to forbid
to purchase = to buy
Exercise 1.Read the legend about Valentine. What do you know about him?Continue the sentences.
Legends of Valentine’s Day
One legend says that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those married, he outlawed marriage for young men.
Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. And Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death, which probably occurred around 270 A.D.
According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in prison, Valentine fell in love with a young girl, his jailor’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today.
Legends usually says that Valentine was a sympathetic, heroic, and romantic person. In the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
1)He was …….
a)a soldier
b)a priest
c)an emperor
2)He lived ………
a)in Paris
b)in London
c)in Rome
3)He lived approximately
a)during the third century
b)in 19 century
c)in 15 century
4)Valentine helped …….
a)poor families.
b)dogs and cats.
c)young lovers.
5)He didn’t agree with Emperor Claudius to forbid marriages for soldiers and he ….
a)continued to perform marriages in secret.
b)gave money to poor.
c)wanted to kill him.
6)When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered ….
a)to award Valentine.
b)to commit suicide.
c)to put Valentine to death.
7)According to another legend, Valentine ……
a)fell in love in prison.
b)ran away from prison.
c)died from unknown disease.
8)Before his death he……
a)didn’t want to see anybody.
b)organized rebellion.
c)wrote a letter to his beloved.
9)Legends usually say that Valentine was……..
a)cute, fashionable.
b)clever and handsome.
c)heroicand romantic person.
Another legend
But there is a version that the Christian church decided to celebrate Valentine’s day in the middle of February because of Lupercalia festival. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of fertility. In the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city wrote their names in a big jar. Then men chose a name out of the jar and then were a partner of chosen woman for the time of festival. Sometimes the couple fell in love and later married.
What legend do you like most of all? –I prefer the legend……, because it is more romantic/interesting/realistic/……………………….
Exercise 2. Here we will know about some traditions in other country to celebrate this day.
Japan / Holland / The UK / Saudi Arabia / Denmark1)In this European country usually serious andprimcitizens forget about everything andbecome extremely romantic.They associateHappyValentine's Daynot only withpeople, but also withanimals. They write"valentines" and give them tothe dogs, cats etc.And horses……
2)In this Asian country people have a competition – “the loudest love confession”. The loudest one will be given a prize. And there is a tradition to give presents to men only, so girls pleasecolleagues, friends, relatives with chocolates and cards.
3)People of this country givethe belovedwhite flowers, flowerscan bedried. Also they givecutesouvenirs, books andsweets."Valentines" are also welcome, but alwaysanonymous. Andifa girlcan guesswho gave her thecard, she should givea chocolate egg to this person on Easter.
4)There is an unusual tradition in this country. Any woman can ask any man to marry her. By the way, the young lady is a winner anyway. Even if a potential bridegroom refuses, he must give her a dress, silk dress.
5)It is the only country wherethe celebration ofValentine's Dayis strictly prohibited.
Exercise 3.Can you name all the symbols of the holiday?
1)
/3)
/5)
2)
/4)
/Add some symbols
…………
Exercise 4.Interesting facts about St.Valentine’s Day.
- Valentine’s Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (after Christmas).
- Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women.
- In Western Europe,Valentine's Dayhas become widelycelebratedsince the 13th century, in the United States-since 1777.
- Around189 millionroses are soldin the United States onValentine's Day.
- On 14th February,2010,in Mexico there happened the most massive kiss in the world, 39897 people.
- According toWelshlegend,a child bornon Valentine's Day will be popular at love affairs and has many lovers. And ifa chickengives eggs on this day, theywill go bad.
- Russia has its own holiday of lovers. What holiday is it? Can you name the symbol of it?
Exercise 5. Ways of celebrating. Classify the variants and add some. What way of celebrating do you prefer?
To go to café, meeting in a restaurant, joint parachute jump, blind date, to give a teddy bear, to go to a movie premiere to go outing/picnic, to go to a concert, to ride horses, dating underwater (diving), joint photo shoot, ………………………..
Standard variants
/Creative variants
To go to cafe
/Joint parachute jump
……………………………….
/…………………………………………..
I prefer standard / creative variant of celebrating. For example, …………………………
Exercise 6. Complete the sentences:
- Valentine’s Day is traditionally day on which lovers …….
- Originally an ancient Catholic feast day in honour of……..
- The day is closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in………..
- Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and…….
- Women purchase 85 % …………
Exercise 7. Complete the sentences:
Read the text and make the tasks.
1) Name the text.
It’s Saturday, 2 p. m. Paul is a bit nervous. It’s natural. It’s his first blind date! Tonight he is meeting Greta, Hans’ cousin, “a beautiful stranger”, as he calls her to himself. Greta comes from Bonn but now she is living in Bristol with a British family. She does light work in the house and helps with the children in return for learning English. She asked Hans to introduce her to one of his friends.
It’s Greta’s first visit to Oxford, so Paul is planning to show her around and then go to a disco to dance. He thinks it’s O. K. for a start. But what if she doesn’t like dancing? Perhaps she is interested in jazz. Well, no problem. He can take her to a jazz club instead. But what if she doesn’t like jazz either? Where else can they go? Sabine is giving a party tonight. Why not go there? Paul always enjoys her parties. Sabine is a wonderful hostess. But what kind of girl is Greta? Well, if she feels uncomfortable, they can leave. What is he going to wear? Paul opens his wardrobe and looks at his “collection” of clothes. He prefers usual clothes– jeans, T-shirts and trainers. The nicest and oldest thing he has is a black jacket. He feels good when he is wearing it. Paul wants to look especially nice and attractive. He is going to wear grey trousers, black shoes, a white shirt with a striped tie and of course the jacket (for luck!). Paul looks at the clock. My God! It’s well past 4! He promised to pick up Greta at 5! Paul gets dressed, looks at himself in the mirror, combs his hair and leaves the house.
At 5 o’clock he knocks on Hans’s door. The door opens and Paul sees a tall slim blonde girl. She is smiling. “Paul?” – “Greta?” – “Hello!” Paul is no longer nervous. He likes the girl at first sight. Greta looks wonderful. She is wearing dark blue jeans, a rosy silk blouse and a long cardigan.
“Well, where shall we go first?” she asks still smiling.
“I’m going to take you on a tour around Oxford”, Paul says and adds” and after that we can go to a disco, to a club or to a party.”
“Sorry, Paul. But I’m afraid I’m too tired tonight to go anywhere else. Let’s take a long walk and talk about ourselves. We can enjoy Oxford night life some other time.”
“O. K. How about tomorrow?”
“Why not go to France on a day trip?”
Paul agrees. What a girl! She is very special!
2) Translate into English:
- первое свидание “вслепую”;
- прекрасная незнакомка;
- в обмен на изучение языка;
- интересоваться джазом;
- замечательная хозяйка;
- на удачу;
- с первого взгляда;
- какаядевушка!
3) True or false? Use the phrases of agreement/ disagreement:
- Paul is nervous because he is going blind.
- Greta is French.
- Instead of meeting Greta, Paul finally decides to go to Sabine’s party.
- Paul is going to put on sth. trendy to impress Greta.
- Paul’s favourite thing in his “collection” of clothes is his black jacket.
- Paul is late for his first blind date.
- Greta and Paul look happy because they like each other at first sight.
Exercise 8. What songs about love do you know?
All you need is love
Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.
Love, Love, Love.
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It's easy.
Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.
It's easy.
All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need. (2)
Nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.
All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.
Thank u for such a cute lesson