10 Romantic Destinations for Valentine’s Day in France. As we approach Valentine’s Day, the quest for the perfect romantic getaway becomes paramount for lovers across the globe. According to the latest 2024 ranking by Holidu, France – the epitome of romance – boasts cities that are nothing short of enchanting for this special occasion. Associating Valentine’s Day with romantic love only began in the Middle Ages. This may have been due to Geoffrey Chaucer, who in his 1382 poem “Parlement of Foules”, linked Saint Valentine’s Day to birds choosing their mates: “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day / When every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” Charles d’Orléans : le premier à avoir envoyé une carte à sa bien aimée pour la Saint-Valentin. En 1415, lors de la bataille d’Azincourt, Charles d’Orléans (père du futur Louis XII) est fait prisonnier et restera captif dans anglais pendant 25 ans. Ce grand poète aurait écrit un poème à l’occasion de la Saint-Valentin pour son épouse Bonne d’Armagnac restée en France. La Saint-valentin – Valentine’s Day in France. There are many different answers to this question as to the origins of St Valentine’s Day remain something of a mystery. While this tradition began as a Christian liturgy festival celebrating the various saints named Valentinus gradually, myths were added to this celebration of 14th February. For his acts of bravery and self-sacrifice, Valentine was declared a saint by Pope Gelase I in order to ensure Valentine’s Day became a Christian tradition that subsumed the Pagan festival of fertility at this time. Le 14 février, c’est La Saint Valentin en France : la fête de l’amour et des amoureux. February 14th is Valentine’s day in France: the day for love and people in love. Careful though – unlike English cultures, Valentine’s day in France is only for people “in” love, not just loving/friendship gestures. Despite his captivity, Charles’s letter exemplified the enduring power of love and the sentimentality associated with Valentine’s Day during this period of history. From Shakespeare to modern era. Even Shakespeare mentioned Valentine’s Day in his Hamlet when Ophelia laments: “To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s Day, All in the morning bedtime, Salut tout le monde! Le 14 février, c’est La Saint Valentin en France : la fête de l’amour et des amoureux. February 14th is St. Valentine's day in France: the holiday of love and lovers. There are many stories and traditions linked to Valentine's day, from both Ancient Rome to more recent modern Christianity. The most But it was not until the Middle Ages that a day of St. Valentine became a day to celebrate love. Century and a half later, Valentine’s day is a popular holiday in many countries and France is one of them. A poll in 2022 showed that 71% of French people celebrate Valentine’s Day. An average amount spent on this day per person is fifty euros. Nowadays, in the central department of Indre, the small village de Saint-Valentin hosts a three-day festival from the 12th to the 14th of February, full of romantic attractions and decorations. A few useful French phrases specific to Valentine’s Day. As we know, Valentine’s Day is the time for romantic gestures. History and Customs of Valentine's Day - Valentine's Day, celebrated annually on February 14th, has its origins in both ancient Roman and Christian traditions. Free printable reading with questions (PDF file). From ancient martyrs to heart-shaped chocolates, the history of Valentine’s Day is rich with fascinating stories and misconceptions. 1. Saint Valentine and His Miraculous Love Letter. One of the most enduring myths associated with Valentine’s Day is the story of Saint Valentine sending the very first Valentine’s card. The popular customs of showing love and affection on St. Valentine’s Day is almost a coincidence with the feast day of the saint: During the Medieval Age, a common belief in England and France was that birds began to pair on Feb.14, “half-way through the second month of the year.” Thank you for downloading this great Valentine’s Day freebie!!! I hope you and your students really enjoy this nonfiction reading activity. The history on Valentine’s Day is murky. I took information from several different sources and checked dates and facts. Since most of this is legend it is difficult to report with 100% accuracy. Valentine’s Day is the holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. The history of Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Roman and Christian traditions, evolving over centuries into the celebration of love and affection that we recognize today. Despite its commercialization, many people view Valentine's Day as an opportunity to express their love and appreciation for their partners, friends, and family members. Pagan Origins Howland became known as the “Mother of the American Valentine.” In 1882, she sold her company to the Whitney Company, making it the world’s largest manufacturer of Valentine’s Day cards at that time. Valentine’s Day has grown in popularity since its earliest beginnings. Today, it is one of the most popular holidays in the world. But, since his contemporaries were more familiar with the Feb. 14 Saint Valentine’s Day, that was the date that became attached to the new holiday of romance. In some ways, that may be a good thing. Valentines Day Traditions and Customs. Romantic festival of St Valentine's Day is celebrated with enthusiasm and fond regard in several countries around the world. Most commonly observed Valentine's Day tradition and custom is expressing one's love with an exchange of cards, flowers and gifts. As far as we can tell, the Saint Valentine of Valentine’s Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century (Valentine of Rome or Valentine of Terni). One of these two was martyred on February 14th 269, thus giving us the date for his eponymous day.
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