Bài 8

Reading:

Pre-reading: Answer the following questions

Do people celebrate Valentine’s Day in Vietnam? On what day? What do people do on that day?

Have you ever given a Valentine gift to anyone? If yes, what was the gift?

What kind of romantic gift would you most like to receive?

February 14 is a day for people who have fallen in love. On this day, these men and women give gifts and cards to each other tocelebrate Valentine’s Day.
At first, February 14 was the old Roman festival, Lupercalia. Then, on February 14, 270 A.D., a man named Valentine was killed by the Roman’s because of his Christian beliefs.
Before Valentine was killed, he fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and would pass notes to her. His final note read, “From your Valentine.” Later, February 14 became known as Saint Valentine’s Day.
Since then, people in love around the world have given gifts and cards to each other on Saint Valentine’s Day. Gloves, chocolates, and even underwear have all been popular as gifts.
Valentine cards did not become popular until the 1750s. The first Valentine cards were made by hand. People wrote their own words on the cards, usually a kind or funny message. Cards made by machines became more popular around 1850.
Now, every year around February 14, cards and chocolates fill stores around the world, for all the people who have fallen in love.

Nguồn: Internet