VALENTINE´S DAY 2012
Autor: Teacher Roseli | Publicado: 2012-02-13T22:50:00-02:00


Every February 14, across the
United States and in other places around the world (Australia, Scandinavia's countries
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, Mexico, Canada, Britain, Italy, Denmark,
Germany), &nbsp;candy, flowers, greeting cards and gifts are
exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this
mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the
history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the
customs of Victorian England.
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day is a holiday observed on February 14 honoring one or
more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine. The day first became associated
with romantic love in
the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer
in the High Middle Ages,
when the tradition of courtly love
flourished. It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from
the General Roman Calendar
of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day


Valentine's Day Symbols

Over the years, Valentine's
Day, the day of love, has acquired many different symbols, or
things that represent love, romance, and passion -- everything that Valentine's
Day represents. Here are a few of the more popular Valentine's Day symbols:

Cupid

Cupid,
the playful winged angel, spreads love by piercing hearts with his
golden arrows. It's no wonder that Cupid brings people together in love. In
Roman mythology, he's the god of erotic love and the son of Venus, the goddess of
love. In Greek mythology, he's known as Eros, the god responsible for
love, lust, and sex. While Cupid had no connection with St. Valentine or the
day itself, his reputation as a matchmaker made him a symbol of Valentine's
Day.

Roses
Roses are the
best-known symbol of beauty and love. Most people know that red roses mean
"I love you." A dozen roses certainly sends a big message on
Valentine's Day! 



Did you know that roses in other colors have
meaning too? 

Red
     and white roses together means unity. 
Pink
     roses mean grace and gentility. 
Yellow roses symbolize joy. 
Orange
     or coral roses communicate your desire. 
Burgundy
     roses are a compliment to your sweetheart's unconscious beauty. 
Sweetheart
     roses are for couples who like nicknames, as they mean darling, dear, or
     honey. 
A
     single rose signifies simplicity, a nice statement to make if your pockets
     are empty. 
White
     roses means your sweetheart is heavenly. 
White
     rosebuds warn that you're too young for love. 


Other flowers also carry different meanings. 

Red
     chrysanthemums, tulips, and carnations still say, "I love you." 
A
     daisy will compliment your valentine's beauty. 
An
     elegant cala lily celebrates your lover's splendid beauty. 
You
     can only send a lilac one time in your life because it goes to your first
     love. 
Gardenia
     is for the scared or the shy. It expresses secret untold love. 
Violets express your affection. 


So what kind of message do you want to send your sweetheart? Be careful
to choose the right flower for the job! 


&nbsp;&nbsp; Hearts
A long time ago, people thought that all your emotions were held in your
heart, especially love. Today, even though we know that our emotions come from
our brain, we still use the heart as a symbol of love. &nbsp;The heart represents life and when you give
your heart to your partner, you´re giving your whole self. Popular Valentine's
Day hearts include a heart with your names inside, a heart pierced with an arrow, or a heart with two
love birds inside.&nbsp;



&nbsp;&nbsp;Love Birds

Valentine's Day has long
been associated with love and fertility and love birds symbolize this as it's
the day that they traditionally choose their mates. Love birds tend to form
very close bonds with their mates, usually lasting a lifetime. Once mated, love
birds become inseparable.


&nbsp; Doves

Doves symbolize peace, loyalty, and
love. Dove birds select a partner and remain loyal throughout their life,
mating only with each other. 


&nbsp;&nbsp;Chocolate

Chocolate has long been
considered a romantic gift, especially on Valentine's Day. It could be that
chocolate is sweet -- like love. More likely is the fact that chocolate is an aphrodisiac
leading to desirable passion. Put it in a heart shaped box and you have a
classic Valentine's Day gift.

Love
Knots

Love knots, also known
as the true lovers knot, have roots dating back to before the 16th century.
It's said that Dutch sailors tied these special knots to remind them of their
loved ones back at home. The love knot consists of two intertwining overhand
knots, symbolizing intertwined lovers. It's also often used in romantic
jewelry and chains. Like true love, the simplicity is deceptive, as this knot
is difficult to tie correctly. 


Lace, Ribbons, and Frills

Lace is a pretty fabric made by weaving together fine threads. Hundreds
of years ago, women carried lace handkerchiefs. If a woman dropped her
handkerchief, a man nearby might pick it up and return it to her. Sometimes a
woman might see a man she wanted to meet. She might drop her lace handkerchief
on purpose to encourage romance. Soon people thought of romance when they
thought of lace. They began using paper lace to decorate chocolate boxes and
Valentine cards. Source: www.romancestuck.com


 

  
Top 5 Most Famous Love Stories in History
  and Literature 

 




 

  Do you
  believe in true love? Do you believe in love
  at first sight? Do you believe in love lasting forever? I
  think that these love stories will renew or reinforce your faith in
  love... They are the most famous love stories in history and literature,
  they are immortal.
 


1. Romeo and Juliet
This is
probably the most famous lovers ever. This couple has become a
synonym for love itself. Romeo and Juliet is a
tragedy by William Shakespeare. Their love story is very tragic. The
tale of two teenagers from two feuding families who fall in love at first sight
and then marry, become true lovers and then risk it all for their love. To take
your own life for your husband or wife is definitely a sign of true love. Their
"untimely deaths" ultimately unite their feuding households.
2. Cleopatra
and Mark Antony
The true love
story of Antony
and Cleopatra is one of the most memorable, intriguing and moving of
all times. The story of these two historical characters had later been
dramatized by William Shakespeare and is still staged all over the world. The relationship of Antony and Cleopatra is a true
test of love. They fell in love at first sight. The relationship between these
two powerful people put the country of Egypt in a powerful position. But their
love affair outraged the Romans who were wary of the growing powers of the
Egyptians. Despite all the threats, Anthony and Cleopatra got married. It is
said that while fighting a battle against Romans, Antony got false news of
Cleopatra's death. Shattered, he fell on his sword. When Cleopatra learned
about Antony 's death, she was shocked. And she took her own life. Great love
demands great sacrifices.
3. Tristan and
Isolde
The tragic love
story of Tristan and Isolde has been told and retold through various stories and
manuscripts. It takes place during medieval times during the reign of King
Arthur. Isolde of Ireland was the daughter of the King of Ireland. She was
betrothed to King Mark of Cornwall. King Mark sent his nephew, Tristan, to
Ireland to escort Isolde back to Cornwall. During the voyage, Isolde and
Tristan fell forever in love. Isolde did marry Mark of Cornwall, but could not
help but love Tristan. The love affair continued after the marriage. When King
Mark finally learned of the affair, he forgave Isolde, but Tristan was banned
from Cornwall. Tristan went to Brittany. There he met Iseult of Brittany. He
was attracted to her because of the similarity of her name to his true love. He
married her, but did not consummate the marriage because of his love for the
"true" Isolde. After falling ill, he sent for Isolde in hopes that
she would be able to cure him. If she agreed to come, the returning ship's
sails would be white, or the sails would be black if she did not agree. Iseult,
seeing the white sails, lied to Tristan and told him that the sails were black.
He died of grief before Isolde could reach him. Isolde died soon after of a
broken heart.
4. Marie and Pierre
Curie
This is a story
about partners in love and science. Unable to continue her studies in
Poland because universities did not admit women, Maria Sklodowska Curie
traveled to Paris in 1891 to attend the Sorbonne. Known by the French
"Marie," she spent every spare hour reading in the library or in the
laboratory. The industrious student caught the eye of Pierre Curie, director
one of the laboratories where Marie worked. Curie ardently wooed Marie and made
several marriage proposals. They were finally married in 1895 and began their
famous partnership. In 1898 they discovered polonium and radium. The Curies and
scientist Henri Becquerel won a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 for discovering
radioactivity. When Curie died in 1904, Marie pledged to carry on their work.
She took his place at the Sorbonne, becoming the school's first female teacher.
In 1911 she became the first person to win a second Nobel Prize, this time for
chemistry. She continued to experiment and lecture until her death of leukemia
in 1934, driven by the memory of the man she loved.
5. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
This love story is about English royalty who mourned
her husband's death for 40 years. Victoria was a lively, cheerful girl,
fond of drawing and painting. She ascended the throne of England in 1837 after
the death of her uncle, King William IV. In 1840, she married her first cousin,
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. While at first Prince Albert was unpopular
in some circles because he was German, he came to be admired for his honesty,
diligence, and his devotion to his family. The couple had nine children.
Victoria loved her husband deeply. She relied on his advice in matters of
state, especially in diplomacy. When Albert died in 1861, Victoria was
devastated. She did not appear in public for three years. Her extended
seclusion generated considerable public criticism. Several attempts were made
on Victoria's life. However, under the influence of Prime Minister Benjamin
Disraeli, Victoria resumed public life, opening Parliament in 1866. But
Victoria never stopped mourning her beloved prince, wearing black until her
death in 1901. During her reign, the longest in English history, Britain became
a world power on which "the sun never set."
Current famous couples:

1. Prince William
and Kate Middleton
2. David Beckham
and Victoria Beckham
3. Angelina Jolie
and Brad Pitt
4. Gisele Bundchen
and Tom Brady
5. William Bonner
and Fátima Bernardes


&nbsp;Enjoy a beautiful love song "Make you feel my love" - Adele