February 14th

Target Language or Knowledge:

Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th each year, has a rich history that dates back to ancient Rome. The day is named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century. There are several legends about Saint Valentine, but one popular story is that he secretly helped couples get married when marriage was banned by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Emperor Claudius believed that single men made better soldiers, so he outlawed marriage for young men. Saint Valentine, who thought this was unfair, performed marriages in secret. He was eventually caught and imprisoned for his actions. While in jail, it's said that he fell in love with the jailer's daughter and sent her a letter signed "from your Valentine," which is where the tradition of sending Valentine's cards comes from. Over the years, Valentine's Day evolved into a day for expressing love and affection. By the Middle Ages, it was popular in England and France for people to believe that February 14th was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that it should be a day for romance. In the 18th century, the practice of exchanging hand-made cards and other tokens of affection became common in England. This tradition spread to other countries, including the United States. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, and people use the day to show love and appreciation for their romantic partners, friends, and family members through gifts, cards, and special gestures.