Every February we celebrate Valentine's Day by giving flowers, candies and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine.

The holiday is full of the heartfelt expressions of love exchanged on that day between sweethearts, good friends, acquaintances.

Yellow roses are also popular on that day as a sign of friendship.

People of all ages love to send and receive valentines and to hear and sing the thousands of new and traditional love songs.

Before Valentine's Day, school children usually make valentines for their teachers and classmates and put them in a large decorated mailbox.

They create handmade valentines out of colored paper, bits of ribbon, glitter, yarn, stickers and lace.

Who is St. Valentine? Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had put him to death.

Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first 'valentine' himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it 'Your Valentine', words still used on cards today. Perhaps we'll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure...February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.

Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine's Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was: Good morning to you, valentine; Curl your locks as I do mine - Two before and three behind. Good morning to you, valentine.

In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gift on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, "You unlock my heart!"

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy.

If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.

Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have.

Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry. As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off. If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.

QUIZ. 1.What is a symbol of friendship? A yellow rose. 2.Where do school children put their valentines? In a mail box.

3. What do people send to their friends and sweethearts? Valentines. 4. What would happen, if a woman saw a robin? She would marry a sailor.

5. What would happen, if a woman saw a sparrow? She would marry a poor man and be very happy. 6. What would happen, if a woman saw a goldfish? She would marry a millionaire.

7. What will you find out, if you count the seeds of a dandelion? The number of children. 8. What presents did people give to their sweethearts many years ago in Wales? Wooden spoons.

9. People celebrate Valentine's Day in honor of …. Saint Valentine. 10. St. Valentine's Day is a day for …. sweethearts.

11. St. Valentines is celebrated …. on the 14 th of February.