Saint Valentine's Day.

Postie, Postie, don’t be slow!

It’s a cold, wet day in February. Much better to stay in bed than to get up. But listen... the letter box is rattling... (hacer ruido) then the envelopes fall on to the mat (esterilla). Is there a Valentine’s Day card for you? Even if there is, you will never know who it is from. The card is anonymous and the sender never signs(firma) it.

From your Valentine

Valentine was a Christian priest who lived in Rome in the third century. The emperor, Claudius II, believed that single (solteros) soldiers would be better than married (casados) soldiers so he did not allow (permitir) his soldiers to marry. Valentine celebrated marriages in secret but, one day, he was caught (pillado) and sent to prison. In prison, he became friends with the jailer’s(carcelero) daughter and, before his execution, sent her a farewell note (carta de despedida) signed “From Your Valentine”.
   

How did the “Day of Love” start?

There are two main theories. The first is that it was connected with the Roman feast of Lupercalia. This was a fertility celebration in honour of Juno, the Roman goddess (diosa) of women and marriage. The day before the festival, each woman wrote a love letter and left it in a large urn.Then each man took one of the letters... and the woman who wrote the letter became (se convertía) his companion for a year. The other theory dates back to (se remonta a) the Middle Ages, when people realised (dieron cuenta) that birds started to mate (emparejarse) on the 14th of February. The custom of sending cards on the 14th February started in 1415 with a Frenchman, Charles Duke of Orleans. He was in prison in the Tower of London and sent a love letter to his wife on that day.

            
   

Valentine’s Day customs in the past

Sometimes, a single woman wanted to know the name of her future husband. One way to find out (averiguarlo) was to write the names of several men on different pieces of paper, roll them up (enrollados) and put them in a bowl of water. The first name that floated (flotaba) to the top was, traditionally, the name of her true love.(amor verdadero) Another custom was to put five bay leaves (hojas de laurel) under the pillow (almohada) at night and to dream of the future husband.

        

  

Valentine’s Day cards (or “Valentines”) are often marked with an X instead of the sender’s name. The X represents a kiss. Many years ago, when people could not write, they signed documents with an X and then kissed the X symbol, in front of witnesses,(testigos) to show sincerity. In the past, people also used to write SWAK on the outside of their letters to their lovers. It meant “Sealed With A Kiss”. (sellado con un beso)

Finally, let's go into this loving atmosphere by listening to a very romantic song by Bobby Vinton- Sealed With A Kiss     

                             

Though we've got to say

Goodbye for the summer

Baby, I promise you this

I'll send you all my love

Every day in a letter

Sealed with a kiss

Yes, it's gonna be a

Cold, lonely summer

But I'll fill the emptiness

I'll send you all my dreams

Every day in a letter

Sealed with a kiss

I'll see you in the sunlight

I'll hear your voice everywhere

I'll run to tenderly hold you

But baby, you won't be there

I don't wanna say

Goodbye for the summer

Knowing the love we'll miss

So, let us make a pledge

To meet in September

And seal it with a kiss

 it's gonna be a

Cold, lonely summer

But I'll fill the emptiness

I'll send you all my love

Every day in a letter

Sealed with a kiss

Sealed with a kiss

Sealed with a kiss

Sealed with a kiss...

Happy St. Valentine’s Day; hope you get lots of cards!