VALENTINE S DAY
Student s Worksheet
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 ........................ your money at exchange office.
© Macmillan Polska 2011 PHOTOCOPIABLE
VALENTINE S DAY
Student s Worksheet
3. Look at the diagram and complete the sentences.
down
off
TURN
to
into
up
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.
© Macmillan Polska 2011 PHOTOCOPIABLE