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Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In America, Europe
and now many countries, it is the traditional day on which lovers express
their love for each other by sending Valentine's Day cards, presenting
flowers or offering confectionery. This special day is most closely
associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of
`valentines'. These are Valentine symbols that include the heart-shaped
outline, doves and the figure of the winged Cupid. The popularity of
Valentine's Day cards in 19th-century America was a harbinger of the future
commercialization of holidays in the United States.
Esther Howland, the woman who produced the first commercial American
valentines in the 1840s, sold a then mind-boggling $5,000 in cards during
her first year of business. The valentine industry in the United States has
been booming ever since. The United States Greeting Card Association
estimates that approximately one billion Valentine's Day cards are sent each
year worldwide, making this day the second largest card-sending holiday
following behind Christmas and New Year cards. Card giving goes back to when
the English settlers first arrived in the United States. As it was against
the law to display affection in public at that time, giving cards to loved
ones was a way of showing one's affection without doing something illegal
and inviting public ridicule.
The United States Greeting Card Association estimated that women purchase
approximately 85 percent of all valentines. In addition to cards, there are
millions of boxes of chocolates and bouquets of roses purchased, mostly by
men. Today, Valentine's Day beaus give their girls flowers, candy, cards,
jewelry or some other gift. A candlelight dinner usually follows, either
homemade or at a romantic restaurant. Children and families celebrate too.
Children make hearts and valentine crafts in school to bring to their
mothers and fathers, and the family might have a special dinner and
celebrate the love that keeps them together.
Many people feel that Valentine's Day is too commercialized. They ask if
we need just that one day to show our loved ones we love them. They feel
that we should not need an excuse to show our love. In fact, love should be
shown every day. Moreover, it does not serve a good purpose for millions of
people to spend more than what they can afford on just one day.
On that day, shops begin to see the dollar sign as they cash in on the
occasion. Everywhere are thousands of different cards with all those
endearing words. Big massive teddies sit in shop windows clutching a big red
heart with loving words. Florists are working through the night tying
ribbons around dozens of red roses and running out to deliver. Restaurants
are fully booked with the men treating their lady to a romantic dinner. This
is typically what a Valentine's Day is today. |
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Based
on the passage given, write a summary on :
•
the significance of Valentine's Day and
•
how it became so commercialized
Your
summary must:
• be
in continuous writing ( not in note form )
• not
be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below
Begin
your summary as follow:
Valentine's Day is closely associated with the mutual exchange of love ... |
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Valentine's Day is closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes
in the form of valentines. These gifts include the heart-shaped outline,
doves and the figure of the winged Cupid. In the 1840s, when valentine's
cards were first sold, they came up to $5,000. Worldwide, about one billion
Valentine's Day cards are sent each year. Card giving started when the
English settlers first arrived in the United States. It was their way to
show affection instead of doing it publicly. The United States Greeting Card
Association estimated that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all
valentines. Today, men give their sweethearts flowers, candy, cards or
jewelry, followed by a candlelight dinner. Children make hearts and
valentine crafts to give to their parents. Valentine's Day is too
commercialized now. Shops and florists enjoy a booming business this tine of
year. (130 words) |
