Be my valentine!!!!

A current of excited energy collects in the air as hands clutching bouquets of red roses and pink greeting cards rush by. It’s February 14th, Valentine’s Day in the United States, a day devoted to love.
Americans celebrate the holiday in a variety of ways, though offering small tokens of affection like flowers and sugary confections is most common.
In many U.S. elementary schools, for example, students use craft items like colored markers, construction paper and glue to fashion handmade cards for their parents. The children also distribute candy and small Valentine’s Day cards to other students in class. The small cards often display a contemporary theme valued by the child, such as a beloved pop singer or favorite cartoon character.
Sending “candygrams” is another popular Valentine’s Day activity. Prevalent among secondary school and college students, candygrams are sweets like heart-shaped lollipops or boxes of chocolate. Students purchase the candy beforehand, then the goods are delivered to their friends on Valentine’s Day. Candygrams may include a heartfelt note or remain anonymous. The sale’s proceeds normally go toward funding student activities like a class gift or spring dance.
Older adults commemorate the holiday in more traditional ways. Sending Valentine’s Day cards to friends and loved ones remains the most widespread custom. Americans send more greeting cards on Valentine’s Day than any other holiday except Christmas.
Americans also give their loved ones flowers. While red roses have been the traditional front-runner, more Americans are choosing alternatives like red tulips or lilies.
And what would a holiday be without food? While some couples enjoy a special meal at their favorite restaurant, most American couples give their significant others boxes of chocolates.
But the feelings of love and appreciation extend beyond couples. Some Americans treat their relatives, friends and even pets to little tokens of affection on Valentine’s Day.
Like many American customs, the traditions of Valentine’s Day trace back to earlier times and other cultures. Named after St. Valentine, this romantic holiday has roots in Christianity. The Catholic Church recognizes three different St. Valentines, all martyred in ancient times. Consequently, there are several theories about St. Valentine’s life and how he became associated with love and the month of February.
According to one legend, a Roman emperor declared young men could not marry — he thought single men made better soldiers. Despite the decree, St. Valentine continued to marry young couples. After learning of this defiance, the emperor sentenced St. Valentine to death.
Another tale paints a different picture. This story claims St. Valentine was sentenced to death for helping Christians escape from harsh Roman prisons. While awaiting execution, Valentine fell in love with the jailor’s daughter. Before his death, he supposedly sent her a love note signed “from your Valentine.”
The authenticity of these legends is questionable. We do know that one of the Valentines, Valentine of Rome, was buried on February 14, which is how the date came to be associated with his name.
February was also significant to the ancient Romans. They held a fertility festival during the middle of the month. This is the earliest merging between February and romantic sentiment, although the holiday’s evolution from a religious observation to a romantic celebration occurred mainly during the Middle Ages. At that time, there was a common belief that February 14 marked the beginning of bird mating season. This association between the birds’ mating habits and St. Valentine’s Day resulted in the romantic undertones we know today.


Write a love letter to a member of your family or to your beloved. 200 words.