St Valentine s Day THE DAY OF LOVERS A

St. Valentine’s Day THE DAY OF LOVERS A SHORT QUIZZ 'SOMEWHERE I HAVE TRAVELLED' BY E. E. CUMMINGS THE DIARY OF A HEART-THROB

A SHORT QUIZ ü CHECK UP üCHOOSE THE CORRECT MEANING BACK

ST. VALENTINE’S DAY The carnival is ending. It is February and the days are short, cold and gloomy. . Still, there is a special day in the middle of this month, on 14 February. This holiday is the Day of Lovers called St Valentine's Day. The day got its name from Valentinus - a saint who lived in the 3 rd century. He helped the Christians persecuted by the Romans. The Roman Emperor put Valentine in prison and ordered his soldiers to kill him because Valentine did not want to believe in pagan gods. On 14 February Valentine wrote a farewell letter to his friend and signed it 'From your Valentine'. He died on the same day. There is also an old legend which says that 14 February is the day when birds choose their partners. That is why people named the day - the Day of Lovers. Today, people in Britain , the USA and many other countries celebrate St Valentine's Day. They send valentine cards, called valentines, flowers and gifts to their sweethearts and friends. Valentine cards must be anonymous, which means that you cannot sign your name on them. Valentines are usually colorful, with pictures of hearts, flowers, kittens, white doves or cupids with bows and arrows. You can also send a special valentine telegram or put an advertisement in a newspaper. But the most valued is a home-made valentine. BACK

THE DIARY OF A HEART-THROB 1 st Feb I met the most wonderful girl in the world. She noticed me and smiled. No wonder – l know that I'm handsome. Her name is Jenny. I'm mad about her! 2 nd Feb Jenny and l went to the cinema. Gosh, she's gorgeous! What about Sheila ? Well, what about her? It seems that l' m falling out of love with her. She's too jealous. 5 th Feb l' m head over heels in love with Jenny. She's an angel. We're going to a party on Friday. 7 th Feb I don't love Jenny any more. Cynthia is my true love. I invited her to a cafe. She said Yes'! I' m so happy! 9 th Feb Now I know what love at first sight means. I only have eyes for my dearest Cynthia. 1 Oth Feb Forget Cynthia. Jill is more beautiful. In fact she's the prettiest girl in the whole school. And she wanted to kiss me at the party last night. I'm sure she did, but Cynthia came and. . . Forget Cynthia! 12 th Feb I' m still dating Jill but I can feel that Brenda has a crush on me. 13 th Feb A terrible quarrel with Jill. We split up. I dumped her but she believes that she walked out on me. Anyway, I must phone Brenda. . . or maybe Cindy. . . 14 th Feb St Valentine's Day. Alone. No valentine cards. No gifts. Oh, how I hate this stupid custom! BACK

‘SOMEWHERE I HAVE NEVER TRAVELLED’ E. E. CUMMINGS somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond any experience, your eyes have their silence: in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which i cannot touch because they are too near your slightest look will easily unclose me though i have closed myself as fingers, you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens (touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose or if your wish be to close me, i and my life will shut very beautifully , suddenly, as when the heart of this flower imagines the snow carefully everywhere descending; nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals the power of your intense fragility: whose texture compels me with the color of its countries, rendering death and forever with each breathing (i do not know what it is about you that closes and opens; only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses) nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands BACK

Decide if the following sentences are true or false: St. Valentine’s Day is in the middle of carnival. ü 14 February is the Day of Lovers. ü St Valentine lived in the 3 rd century. ü St Valentine did not care for other people. ü He believed in pagan gods. ü On 14 February St Valentine sent a letter to the Emperor. ü People send gifts and valentine’s cards to their sweethearts and friends on St. Valentine’s Day. ü You cannot sign your name on a valentine’s card. ü On 14 February you can read a valentine advertisement in a newspaper. ü BACK

Choose the right answer. 1. If you carry a torch for somebody a) you show him/her the way in the dark b) You are in love with him/her c) you help him/her carry his bags 2. If you burn with love a) you love somebody very much b) you burn the letters from your ex-girlfriend / ex-boyfriend c) you stop loving somebody 3. Puppy love is a) the love of two dogs b) the feeling that you have for your favourite pet c) the love of young people , usually for somebody much older than them 4. If you fall in love with somebody a) you begin to love him / her b) you trip and fall down in the street because you see a beautiful girl / boy c) you stop loving somebody 5. If you are nuts about somebody a) you buy nuts for your girlfriend/ boyfriend b) you love somebody very much , you are crazy about somebody c) you like eating nuts BACK