As Cole Porter said in the 1920s:
“Birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love”
No-one seems to know the origin of Valentine’s Day for sure but it may have been due to the pairing and mating of birds in mid-February, acknowledged by the giving and receiving of small tokens of love and admiration in medieval days.
Others say it has darker origins; that it goes back to Roman times and pagan rituals, popularised later by Shakespeare and others in their own languages of love.
Now, of course, it’s commercialised and celebrated all over the world. In the UK and US, it’s commonplace to send Valentine’s cards to partners, friends, colleagues, family and those you don’t know yet but would love to! But in France, la fête de Saint-Valentin means flowers, presents, chocolates and going out for dinner, but no cards. Cards are viewed as rather tacky.
It’s celebrated by adults but not by children, and it’s not so commercialised – which means perhaps that like most things French, it has more je ne sais quoi!
There is a small village in France called St Valentin which declared itself le village des amoureux and is visited by people from all over the world by those renewing their vows or getting married in the village church.
If you’re planning to use your language skills for your Valentine, here are a few suggestions (with thanks to www.frenchtoday.com):
- L’amour – love
- Je t’aime – I love you (using tu)
- Je vous aime – I love you (using vous)
- Je l’aime – I love with him/her
- Je suis amoureux / amoureuse de toi, lui, elle, vous… – I am in love with you, him, her, you
- Est-ce que tu veux sortir avec moi? – would you like to go out with me?
- Est-ce que tu veux (bien) m’épouser? – would you marry me? The bien here is optional, and means “are you willing to marry me”
- To kiss – embrasser, s’embrasser
- A kiss – un baiser, un bisou
- Un amoureux / une amoureuse – a sweetheart
- Mon chéri, ma chérie, mon amour… terms of endearment
- Joyeuse Saint Valentin – happy Valentine’s day.
- Tu veux être mon Valentin / ma Valentine? Would you be my Valentine?
Whatever you do this week for Valentine’s, enjoy and profitez de parler français!