Hi, I'm Georgiana, your English teacher.

Thanks for joining me for a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast.

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Before we start, visit my website, speak-Englishpodcast.com, and subscribe to my free mini-course. Okay, let's start. In today's episode, I will talk about Valentine's Day in the United States, and with a

mini-story, you will improve your English speaking. Remember, you can get the transcript

at speakenglishpodcast.com. Okay, let's get started.

Although it's a very commercial holiday, Valentine's Day has a fascinating history

that goes back to ancient Rome.

In the United States and other parts of the world, people celebrate February 14 by giving away candy hearts

and red roses. Historians believe that Valentine's Day originated in the ancient Rome as a pagan

fertility festival, but despite its origins in 1300, it officially became a holiday associated with love and

romance. The Roman Pope officially declared February 14 Valentine's Day. It was then associated

with love because many believe that birds began their mating season on February 14.

There was more than one St. Valentine.

There have been multiple St. Valentine's throughout the history, like a bishop and a pope.

But the most common one was the one who challenged Emperor Claudius

II. By then, Claudius had forbidden marriage, because he thought it would distract young soldiers.

However, Valentine disapproved, so he illegally married couples until he was captured. After he was convicted,

young couples would visit his cell and give him flowers and cards. It said that he died on February

14. Let's see how Americans celebrate Valentine's Day nowadays. Since 1840, sending cards became a tradition,

and Americans send out 145 million Valentine's Day cards every year. Americans spend a lot of money on Valentine's Day. About 50% of Americans

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