©

Macmillan Polska 2011

PHOTOCOPIABLE

Student’s Worksheet

VALENTINE’S DAY

1.

Read the text. Circle true or false.

Valentine’s Day is a festival celebrated on every 14th February.

It is a special day when people express their feelings by

exchanging Valentine’s cards or giving some gifts.

The origin of Valentine’s Day is difficult to

trace. There

are a lot of different beliefs about its beginning. There are

some legends that can be the source for the history of Valentine’s Day.

According to one belief the festival has originated from the

ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia

which was celebrated to

avert evil spirits and purify the city.

Lupercalia was celebrated on 15th February. However, in 496 AD, Pope Gelasius turned

Lupercalia into a Christian feast and decided to celebrate it a day earlier, on 14th February.

The new festival was celebrated in the

honour of an early Christian martyr, later known as

St. Valentine.

Valentine was a

bishop who held secret marriage ceremonies of soldiers. He helped young

lovers to be together. The Roman Emperor Claudius who had forbidden marriages arrested

Valentine and sentenced him to death.

Being at prison Valentine sent some cards which were

signed ‘From your Valentine’. These

messages were the beginnings of Valentine cards.

1. On 14th February people exchange Valentine’s cards.

T

F

2. The origin of Valentine’s Day is easy to trace.

T

F

3. Lupercalia was celebrated in February.

T

F

4. Lupercalia was celebrated to prevent from evil spirits.

T

F

5. Lupercalia was changed into a Christian feast 496 BC.

T

F

6. Gelasius refused to celebrate Valentine’s day on 14th Feb. T

F

2. Explain words written in bold. Use them to complete the sentences.

1. I could

........................

my family tree back to the 18th century.

2. I really like learning facts about

........................

Greece.

3.

........................

your name here, please.

4. Students

........................

telephone numbers in September.

5. A disaster was narrowly

........................

.

6. I have the

........................

to inform you have gained the medal.

7. There were no

........................

for me at the hotel.

8. He loves making a

........................

of himself and claims he has to suffer because of us.

9.

........................

Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death.

10. You can

........................

yourmoneyatexchangeoffice.

TURN

down

to

up

into

off

©

Macmillan Polska 2011

PHOTOCOPIABLE

Student’s Worksheet

VALENTINE’S DAY

3. Look at the diagram and complete the sentences.

a) Gelasius turned Lupercalia

........................

a Christian feast.

b) I can turn

........................

my friends when I have problems.

c) Turn

........................

the volume, please. I can’t hear anything.

d) Turn

........................

the TV set. It’s too loud.

e) Turn

........................

the radio and focus, please.