Welcome to our First Class assembly. We have been learning all about Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14th February every year. It’s a day when people show their love to another person by sending presents and messages of love.

No one really knows who St. Valentine was however there are lots of stories about him.
We don’t know if they are true… but they are good stories so we would like share one with you!

Saint Valentine was a priest who lived a long, long time ago in Rome. At the time Rome was ruled by an emperor called Claudius.

Claudius was angry because nobody wanted to join his army. All of the men wanted to stay at home with their wives and children.

Claudius said that nobody could get married.
He thought that this way the men would have no families and they would come and join his army.
A kind priest named Valentine helped the men by letting them marry their sweethearts in secret.

When Emperor Claudius found out about this he was very angry. He sent his soldiers to arrest Valentine and throw him into prison.

Whilst he was in prison, Valentine began to teach the blind daughter of his jailer. She was called Julia.

Julia and Valentine became great friends and Valentine cured Julia’s blindness with a miracle.

On the day that Valentine died, he wrote a letter to Julia and signed it from ‘Your Valentine’.
The story says that Valentine died on February 14th

Nowadays on Valentine’s Day, people show others that they care by sending them gifts and cards.
People may take their loved ones out for special treats like meals or to the cinema.

Song: Skidamarink

Sometimes people like to write poems to their Valentine.

You are very sweet
You are very smart
And I love you
With all of my heart.

I love you today
As I have from the start,
And I’ll love you forever
With all of my heart

I love your beautiful smile
And your kind way,
The joy that you bring
To my life every day.

Valentines, valentines
Red, white and blue
I’ll make a nice one
And send it to you

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you

Friends are clever,
Friends are true,
Best Friends forever–
Me and You!
Be Mine!

Song: I Love You