2. Valentine was a priest who lived in Rome during the third century. At that time Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius.

3. Claudius wanted to have a big army and he understood that many men did not volunteer to join because they didn’t want to leave their wives and children. He had a crazy idea: he issued a law not allowing any more marriages.

4. One of Priest Valentine’s favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, he kept on performing marriages secretly. One night they heard footsteps and the couple he was marrying escaped in time but he was caught.

5. He was thrown in jail and his punishment was death. Many people went to jail to visit him, they threw flowers and notes up to his window because they also believed in love.

6. One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit him in the cell. They became best friends.

7. On the day he was to die, he left her a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it : “Love from your Valentine.” This note was written on February 14th, 269 A.D. and it started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine’s Day.

8. Some traditions If a woman sees a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s day, it means she will marry a sailor.

9. If she sees a sparrow she’ll marry a poor man and be very happy.

10. If she sees a goldfinch, she will marry a millionaire.

11. Think of 5 or 6 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.

12. If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside you will also know how many children you’ll have.

13. Symbols