St. Valentine’s Day

Unit 1: Text: St. Valentine’s Day

'Let Me Call You Sweetheart'.

Let me call you sweetheart,

I'm in love with you.

Let me hear you whisper

That you love me too.

Keep the love light glowing

In your eyes so true.

Let me call you sweetheart,

I'm in love with you.

1. Read and translate the text.

St. Valentine’s Day has its origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, observed on February 15. Lupercalia celebrated the coming of spring in the Roman calendar (February was observed later in the year than it is today). Lupercalia was associated with the Roman gods Lupercus and Faunus. Lupercus watched over shepherds and their flocks and the festival of Lupercalia became a celebration intended to ensure the fertility of flocks, fields and people.

The celebration of Lupercalia spread as the Roman Empire grew. When the Romans conquered France, the first Valentine-like cards were used, in which women had written their names (possibly accompanied by love notes) that later could be used in a lottery to search someone favors.

From its association with Lupercalia, St. Valentine’s Day associates with love and romance. This led Valentine’s enthusiasts to appoint the Roman god Cupid as a patron of Valentine’s Day. Cupid is also known as Amor or Eros in Greek mythology. The ancient Greeks believed Eros was the force "love," that is why Eros seems to have been responsible for impregnating a number of goddesses and mortals.

There are several legends about St. Valentine’s Day. Each legend stems from real-life martyrs known as Valentines who lived in the time of Roman Empire. It is unsure who St. Valentine was, but there are several candidates. One of these Valentines is believed to have been a Roman priest and physician. He was put into prison by roman authorities for his teachings and was beheaded on February 14. According to the legend he performed a miracle-he cured his jailer’s daughter of her blindness. Before the execution he wrote her a letter signed “From Your Valentine”. Another legend says that the same Valentine wrote to children and friends who loved him from the jail. After his death this Valentine was buried in the Roman road Via Flaminia. Pope Julius I is said to have later built a basilica above his grave. One more Saint Valentine candidate, believed to be a bishop of Teni (a province in central Italy), was executed in Rome.

According to another legend, Valentine was an Italian bishop who lived at about the same time. He was thrown into prison because he secretly married couples, contrary to the laws of the Roman Empire. The legend says that he was burnt at the stake.

February 14 was also a Roman holiday. On this day young men randomly chose the name of the girl to escort to the festival. The custom of choosing a sweetheart on this day became very popular in the medieval Europe. Later this custom spread to American colonies.

Now, St. Valentine’s Day is the day of sweethearts. On this day, people send candy or flowers to those whom they love. Most people send “valentines”, greeting cards named after St. Valentine’s letters written from jail. Valentines can be sentimental and romantic, or funny and friendly. Valentines can be anonymous. Valentines can be heart-shaped. People buy valentines or make them themselves.

Vocabulary

to observed – торжественно праздновать, проводить торжественную церемонию

shepherd - пастух, чабан

fertility - плодородие, изобилие, богатство

flock - стадо

to conquer – завоевывать, покорять, подчинять

to appoint - назначать, определять

Cupid - римск.миф. Купидон

Amor – римск.миф.Амур

Eros - греч.миф.Эрос

ancient - древний, старинный, античный

responsible - ответственный, несущий ответственность

goddess - богиня

mortal – смертный

to stem – происходить, являться результатом чего-то

martyr – мученик, страдалец

priest - катол.священник

to cure – исцелять, излечивать

to bury - хоронить

Pope - Римский Папа; священник, поп

bishop - епископ

stake –ист. столб, к которому привязывали присужденного к сожжению

randomly - случайно, наугад

sweetheart -возлюбленный,/ -ая

Valentine's Day is mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600-1601):

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

              —William Shakespeare , Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5    

1. The letters of the words were mixed. Put them in the right way.

reda aetnVlnie eruyFbar traeh yrpta siks dre

1.  Match the famous couples.

ADAM - TATYANA

DON HOSE - A.DUNCAN

NAPOLEON - SINDERELLA

RHET TBUTTLER - CLEOPATRA

PRINCE CHARLES - EVE

YESENIN - CARMEN

ORPHEUS - JULIET

ROMEO - SCARLET O'HARA

PRINCE - EURYDICE

CAESAR - LADY DI

JOSEPHINE - ONEGIN 

1. Match the symbols of love with their definitions and translate these sentences.

1. Find Russian equivalents.

Proverbs

1) Love is blind. 

2) Love laughs at locks myths. 

3) Love will find a way. 

4) Love me little, love me long. 

5) Love me, love my dog. 

6) Love of money is the root of all evil.

7) All is fair in love and war.

8) It is love mat makes the word go round. 

1. Match the following parts into the whole sentences and translate them:

1. Listen to this sing and answer the questions.

Lady in Red

I've never seen you looking so lovely
  As you did tonight.
  I've never seen you shine so bright.
  I've never seen so many men
  Ask you if you wanted to dance
  They're looking for a little romance
  Given half a chance.
  And I never seen that dress
  You are wearing or the highlights
  In your hair that catch your eyes.
  I've been blind.
  The lady in red is dancing with me
  Cheek to cheek.
  There's nobody here
  It's just you and me.
  It's where I want to be.
  But I hardly know
  This beauty by my side.
  I'll never forget the way
  You look tonight.

• Do you know who the singer is?

• What is this song about?

• Did you like the song? Why?

8. Answer the questions

• What are the origins of St. Valentine’ Day?

• When and where was the first Valentine – like cards used?

• Why is St. Valentine’ Day associated with love and romance?

• Who is a patron of Valentine’ Day?

• Who was St. Valentine?

• What do people celebrate on this day?

• What are the symbols of this holiday?