St. Valentine's Day, February 14, 2005

It is St. Valentine's Day today. Students were exchanging gifts today. A boy was carrying a red rose in a glass bottle, a girl was hugging a crocodile, two other girls were holding posters thay had made for their friends. Some students walked in the classroom with balloons and flowers. During my thrid period today there was a call from the front desk for a girl who came back in a while with flowers, balloons, candy and a toy. In the staff room there was a party for the teachers given by one of the students' clubs. We had cream fluff, candy, cookies, strawberries and blackberries. There was a Happy Valentine's Day Raffle from Dr. DePrez , our school principal. We had to put our name into the box provided, and take a chance to win one of the following:

$20.00 gift certificate from Cold Stone Creamery

$30.00 gift certificate from Harkins Theatres

$50.00 gift certificate for dinner at Garduno's.

I told my students that in Bulgaria it is St. Trifon Zarezan's Day - a day of vineyards, 
grapes and wine. We have been having this holiday since 1968. On this day wine producers 
trim the vines, water them and celebrate their great expectations for good harvest in the fall.
They drink wine and choose a king of the vineyard.