Valentine's Day in French is "la Saint-Valentin" or "La Fête Des Amoureux (Lover's Day). Here's a list of fun French Valentine's Day vocabulary and phrases. In France, Valentine’s Day is celebrated mainly by exchanging cards, flowers, and gifts between loved ones. Romantic dinners and weekend getaways are also popular among couples. What happens on the 14 of February in France? In France Valentines cards are called cartes d'amities, the first recorded Valentines greeting was supposed to have been sent by the Duke of Orleans, a Frenchman who was held prisoner in the Tower of London after his capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Unlike in many parts of the world, Valentine’s Day in France is mostly for adults, and for people who are in love. So you will not find pre-schoolers, best friends, or even family members giving each other handmade cards and gifts. La Saint-Valentin or Valentine’s Day has become a commercial celebration spread across Western Europe and today it revolves around the giving of cards and gifts to the one you love. But where does this tradition come from? Picture the Duke of Orleans, imprisoned in London, writing the very first Valentine’s card to his beloved. This romantic gesture has spanned centuries, and that card is now treasured at the British Museum. The name of Raymond Peynet is synonymous with Valentine’s Day in France. In France, Valentine’s Day is all about those who are ‘in love’ as opposed to loving gestures. Children are unlikely to exchange cards, and gifts would not really be offered to friends to celebrate this Day in the way that they might be in the US or the UK. Valentine’s Day greetings became popular in 15th century France with an annual feast day of food, singing and dancing to mark the romantic occasion. The first Valentine’s cards were made in the 18th century and were handmade and decorated with romantic symbols and poetry. In France, Valentine’s day is only for people in love. Read my cultural tips about “la Saint Valentin” + French love vocabulary and traditions. Le 14 février, c’est La Saint Valentin en France : la fête de l’amour et des amoureux. February 14th is Valentine’s day in France: the day for love and people in love. Chocolate gifting became a Valentine’s Day staple thanks to Richard Cadbury’s invention of the heart-shaped chocolate box in the 1800s. Today, chocolates are one of the top gifts exchanged on Valentine’s Day, with everything from fancy truffles to giant chocolate bars making their way into hearts and hands. By the 18th century, commercially printed Valentine’s Day cards began to appear, making it easier for people to express their sentiments. In Victorian England, the practice of sending elaborate and ornate Valentine’s Day cards became popular. These cards were often adorned with lace, ribbons, and intricate designs. Valentine’s Day Festival is celebrated with joy and vigor in France. As in America, Valentine’s Day is highly commercialized in France with the help of media. People consider this Valentine’s day occasion to express their love and gratitude to people close through them. Valentine’s Day Traditions In France People take opportunity of the occasion and express love to people close through them. Just as in several other countries people in France exchange Valentine's Day greetings through cards, fresh flowers and gifts of love. History of Valentine's Day in France. History of Valentine's Day Festival has a strong association with France. Valentine's Day Vocabulary in English: Learn English Verbs, Nouns, and Adjectives associated with Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day words with meanings and example sentences. A relatively new phenomenon for Valentine’s day in France is to get a personal chef to come to your home and prepare dinner. As romantic as that sounds, I thought I would put together an ideal French menu for a valentine’s day dinner: Entreé (Appetizers): Salmon tartare, foie gras, or Coquilles St. Jacques en Gratin with champagne as an Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated every February 14; this year Valentine's Day falls on a Friday. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts France: Often called the “City of Love”, Paris plays a major role in France’s Valentine’s Day traditions. Couples flock to the city’s romantic landmarks, and the day is marked with love-themed events, including dinner cruises along the Seine and trips to the Pont des Arts, a bridge where lovers attach locks to symbolize their Valentine’s Day, holiday (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It may have had beginnings in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated the coming of spring and included fertility rites and other activities, but the origin of the holiday is vague at best. Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. The day originated as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Saint Valentine (Italian: San Valentino , Latin: Valentinus ).
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