Reading Skills for Today's Adults

February 14th​ is not a national holiday. Businesses and banks are open. Our mail is delivered. Children go to school and adults go to work. It is a normal day, with one difference. It’s Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love. Friends and loved ones give each other cards, candy, and flowers.

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Valentine cards are one of the most ​popular​ gifts on this holiday. There are many different kinds. Some people make their own cards; others buy them. Women and men often give each other romantic cards. These cards say, “I Love You.”

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Children and friends often share funny cards. They are not romantic. These cards may have funny jokes or riddles. Others may have a greeting like, “You’re a super friend!” Children give cards to friends at school parties. These cards are called valentines.

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Flowers and candy are also popular Valentine’s Day gifts. Red is the color of love. Many people give red roses to boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, or wives. Valentine’s week is a very busy time for florists. In fact, it is their busiest time of year!

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Many stores sell heart-shaped boxes of candy. Chocolate is found in most of those boxes. Pink and white M&M’s are another holiday treat. Don’t forget the candy conversation hearts! Both children and adults have fun reading the sayings on those pastel candy hearts.

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The history of Valentine’s Day is a ​mystery​. No one knows exactly why or when it began. Some believe it started thousands of years ago. In ancient Rome, a festival was held every year on February 15. On this day young men were paired with young women. They were a couple for the remainder of the year. Often these couples would fall in love and marry.

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Christian tradition celebrates Saint Valentine. He was a kind, loving priest who secretly performed marriages in Rome. During this time, however, marriage was against the law. He was beaten and put in jail. He died on February 14, 270.

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Today, Valentine’s Day is a day for love and friendship. It is a day to tell friends and lovers you care about them. It is also a day of big business for card stores, candy shops, and florists!