VIII. Read the article, and do the tasks that follow.

LOVE - Celebrated Around The World

Everyone had heard Valentine’s Day. Americans traditionally send cards, chocolates, and flowers to the people they love on February 14^th, but it isn’t the only way people celebrate love around the world. Our reporter, Kelly Wilson, interviewed people about festival traditions in different countries.

St. George’s Day - Catalonia, Spain

Kelly: In Catalonia, you celebrate love on April 23^rd. Is that right?

Laia: Yes, we do. It’s St. George’s Day. St. George is the patron saint of Catalonia, as well as other countries, like England and Greece.

Kelly: The festival also has different names, doesn’t it?

Laia: Yes, it does. In Catalonia we sometimes also call it ‘The Day of the Rose’, or ‘The Day of the Book’. That’s because people give each other roses and books on this day.

Kelly: Should men should give women roses?

Laia: Yes, they should. And women should give men books.

Kelly: Is it a very popular tradition in Catalonia?

Laia: Yes, it is, particularly in Barcelona. On April 23^rd, the downtown area is packed with street performers and musicians, and many of the bookstores and cafes join in the celebrations. It’s a great day.

Friendship Day - Argentina

Kelly: Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day in Argentina, Mateo?

Mateo: Yes, we do! But we also celebrate Friendship Day on July 20^th.

Kelly: Is that a festival of love and friendship?

Mateo: Yes, it is. Because love is for everyone, not just couples!

Kelly: Have Argentinians celebrated this festival since the 1970s?

Mateo: Yes, they have. On July 20^th, 1969, Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, and people around the world celebrated together. The Argentinian professor Enrique Febbraro started ‘Friendship Day’ on the same date because he thought that this was a very special moment. It symbolizes unity and togetherness.

Kelly: Can you celebrate this festival in many different ways?

Mateo: Of course! But typically, we send messages, we make phone calls, and we go out at night. It’s a very busy night for restaurants. On this night, everyone wants to eat out.

Task 1. Match the festivals 1-3 with the dates a-c.

1. Valentine’s Day                        _____                 a. July 20^th

2. St. George’s Day                        _____                 b. February 14^th                        

3. Friendship Day in Argentina        _____                  c.  April 23^rd

Task 2. Answer the questions.

1. How do people traditionally celebrate Valentine’s Day in the US?

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2. Who is St. George?

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3. What other names does St. George’s Day have in Catalonia?

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4. What happens in Barcelona on the day of the festival?

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5. What is Friendship Day?

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6. What happened on this day in 1969?

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7. Who is Enrique Febbraro, and what did he do?

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8. How do people celebrate Friendship Day?

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9. UNIT 9. Social issues