Why it is called Valentine's Day

St. Valentine's Story

Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.

Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!

Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.

One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.

I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.

One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!

From: www.isabelperez.com

Approximately 150 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas.

Do you want to surprise your beloved ones? No need to spend your money. Here you can learn about how  to make an Origami Valentine's Day Card - Love Letter ❤

GIFT WRAP= PAPEL DE REGALO
SIZE = TAMAÑO

FOLD = PLIEGUE

EDGE = BORDE

Get inspired for your cards...

When love is not madness, it is not love.  ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca

For you see, each day I love you more.Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.

~Rosemonde Gerard

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.  ~Albert Einstein

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.~Author Unknown

Who, being loved, is poor?  ~Oscar Wilde

We loved with a love that was more than love.  ~Edgar Allan Poe

Around the world. SAMI MUSIC.

HISTORY 3º ESO 

From the English Department to our dear colleague Xabi Crespo. ENJOY!
If you cannot see the activity properly, click on the link below.

The Sami people, also spelled Sámi or Saami, are the Arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi (northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia) and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway.

In traditional Sami music joiks are important musical expressions. The Sami also use a variety of musical instruments.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

SAMI MUSIC QUIZ:

Sami Music listening comprehension

MORE anti-crisis Christmas presents...

There's no need to spend a lot of money. Love and imagination are enough sometimes...

 Recycled Disco Ball

YOU WILL NEED Large paper clip Tacky glue (= pegamento) 8-inch (20.3-centimeter) Styrofoam ball (=bola de poliestireno) 8 to 10 old CDs (ask for permission to use them) String (= cordel) WHAT TO DO Straighten the paper clip and bend it into a U-shape. Dip both ends of the clip in glue, then stick them into the Styrofoam ball With a parent’s help, use scissors to cut the CDs into irregular one-inch pieces. (Be very careful of sharp edges!) Rest the ball on top of a bowl to keep it from rolling. Dab glue in the center of a CD piece on the side that is less shiny. Press onto the ball. Repeat until half of the ball is covered. Let dry. Repeat on the other half of the ball. Tie the string around the paper clip loop, and hang near a window or light. Then start practicing your dance moves. STRAIGHTEN = ESTIRAR.............................................SHARP EDGE = BORDE AFILADO BEND = DOBLAR.........................................................REST = DESCANSAR, POSAR EN DIP = SUMERGIR........................................................DAB = APLICAR SCISSORS = TIJERAS..................................................SHINY = BRILLANTE ONE-INCH = UNA PULGADA........................................LET DRY = DEJA SECAR LOOP = LAZADA Text by NGS Staff Photograph by Rebecca Hale ......................................................................From: kids.nationalgeographic.com

Anti-crisis Christmas presents

Christmas is a time of added expense and the global financial crisis will make things difficult for us. We HAVE to SPEND LESS.
Be imaginative, be thoughtful...  and ENJOY preparing gifts for your beloved.


ADDED EXPENSE = GASTO AÑADIDO.............THOUGHTFUL = CONSIDERADO, AMABLE, ATENTO...........GIFT = REGALO

Pot O' Gold Craft 

Create your own pot o' gold and save some money. This craft is totally green too! You can use leftover chip cans and tissue paper!

POT O'GOLD =  HUCHA (pot of gold = puchero de oro)........................SAVE = AHORRAR

CRAFT = MANUALIDAD..................................................................GREEN = ECOLÓGICO

LEFTOVER = SOBRANTE, DE SOBRA..............................................CHIP CAN = LATA DE PATATILLAS

TISSUE PAPER = PAPEL DE SEDA

YOU WILL NEED

• Cylindrical can with lid (= tapa)
• Festive tissue paper or wrapping paper (= papel de envolver)
• Clear contact paper (= papel adhesivo)
• Tape (= cinta adhesiva) or glue ( =cola)
• Scissors (= tijeras)
• Optional: Garland ( =guirnalda), glitter (=brillantina), or markers (=rotuladores)for additional decoration

HERE'S HOW
1. Tape tissue paper or wrapping paper to the outside of the can.

2. Cover in clean contact paper

3. Cut a slit in the lid.

4. Fill with money.

.........................................................................From: kids.nationalgeographic.com

..................................................................................................Text by NGS Staff

..................................................................................................Photograph by Lyssa White

..............More ideas coming soon!