VALENTINE DAY
(QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS With Explanation)
1. Which of the following former quarterbacks celebrates his birthday on Valentine's Day?
Answer: Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe was born on the 14th of February, 1972.
2. Which was the first company to create heart-shaped boxes containing Valentine's Day chocolates?
Answer: Cadbury
In 1861 John Cadbury's son, Richard, began packing Cadbury chocolates in heart-shaped boxes (dubbed "Fancy Boxes") specifically for Valentine's Day.
3. In what year is Saint Valentine of Rome said to have been martyred?
Answer: 269
St. Valentine was born in 226 and executed in 269, thus making him a little over 40 years old at the time of his death.
4. Which Roman deity is most associated with the celebration of Valentine's Day?
Answer: Cupid
Cupid is the Roman god of desire, attraction, affection and erotic love, thus making him the perfect candidate to represent Valentine's Day.
5. What type of tree did the jailer's daughter who befriended Saint Valentine plant to commemorate his life?
Answer: Almond
After Valentine's execution the jailer's daughter, Julia, planted an almond tree with pink blossoms near his grave.
6. What is name of the holiday also celebrated on 14 February yet dedicated to recognizing singles?
Answer: Quirkyalone Day
Observers of International Quirkyalone Day are advised to celebrate platonic, familial and self love in addition to romance on 14 February.
7. On what day of the year is Valentine's Day held in Brazil?
Answer: 12th June
Valentine's Day is held on 12th June in Brazil as it is the eve of Saint Anthony's Day, a revered figure who died on 13th June, 1231 in Italy.
8. In which country is it illegal to hold Valentine's Day's events in public?
Answer: Pakistan
The Islamabad High Court of Pakistan also put a ban on all media broadcasts related to Valentine's Day.
9. Which monarch officially made Valentine's Day a holiday in 1537?
Answer: Henry VIII
King Henry VIII reigned from 1509 until 1547, so it was he who made St. Valentine's Day a statutory holiday in England.
10. In China, the celebration of Valentine's Day is conducted in which lunar month?
Answer: 7th
The Qixi Festival, which has been dubbed the "Chinese Valentine's Day", is held on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, which has it occuring on 7 August in 2019.
11. What is the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage ever?
Answer: 84 years
Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina hold the Guinness World Record for longest married couple at 84 years. They were married for a total of 87 years when Herbert died in 2011.
12. Cupid is described as having which ailment, according to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?
Answer: Blindness
Shakespeare describe Cupid as being blind as a metaphor for true love being based on inward qualities, not looks.
13. Which member of the Roman pantheon is commonly considered to be Cupid's father?
Answer: Ares
Although most people could probably guess that Cupid's mother is Venus, the goddess of love, they may (or may not) be surprised to find out that Mars (Ares), the god of war, is generally considered to be his dad.
14. Which country set a kissing world record on Valentine's Day in 2009?
Answer: Mexico
Though Mexico may be known as one of the roughest places on earth, in 2009 it set a world record when 40,000 people kissed simultaneously on Valentine's Day!
15. In what country is the skull of St. Valentine of Rome said to be kept?
Answer: Italy
Though some remains of St. Valentine rest at the Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Ireland, his skull is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Rome, the capital of Italy.
16. What is Valentine's Day called in Brazil?
Answer: Dia dos Namorados
Dia dos Namorados translate from Portuguese to "Lovers Day" or "Boyfriends/Girlfriends Day".
17. In the United States, approximately how many people annually propose marriage to their sweetheart on Valentine's Day?
Answer: 220,000
This Valentine's Day, an average of 220,000 single Americans will muster up the heart to ask their significant other's hand in marriage!
18. In what year was Valentine's Day removed from the Roman calendar?
Answer: 1969
Pope Paul VI removed the Valentine's Day feast from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 due to lack of verifiable information about Saint Valentine.
19. Which of the following groups receive the most cards on Valentine's Day?
Answer: Teachers
Teachers are shown more appreciation (card-wise) on Valentine's Day then girlfriends, wives or anyone else!
20. On what day of the year is Valentine's Day held in Brazil?
Answer: 12th June
Valentine's Day is held on 12th June in Brazil as it is the eve of Saint Anthony's Day, a revered figure who died on 13th June, 1231 in Italy.
21. Saint Valentine is the patron saint of which specific disease?
Answer: Epilepsy
Some legends state that Saint Valentine suffered from epilepsy, while others say he cured other people stricken with this ailment. Either way he is officially one of its patron saints.
22. What is Valentine's Day called in Brazil?
Answer: Dia dos Namorados
Dia dos Namorados translate from Portuguese to "Lovers Day" or "Boyfriends/Girlfriends Day".
23. Which monarch officially made Valentine's Day a holiday in 1537?
Answer: Henry VIII
King Henry VIII reigned from 1509 until 1547, so it was he who made St. Valentine's Day a statutory holiday in England.
24. What miracle is Saint Valentine said to have performed shortly before his death?
Answer: Restored Sight
According to legend, Valentine actually restored the sight of his own jailer's daughter, who he befriended.
25. Which candy company is known as the primary producer of "conversation hearts" in the United States?
Answer: Necco
The New England Confectionary Company or NECCO had originated and were the primary producers of these candies. However as of late 2018 they have officially been out of business.
26. What is the name of the poem that is said to be the first historical reference of Valentine's as a day for romance?
Answer: Parlement of Foules
In his 1382 poem "Parlement of Foules", renowned English author Geoffrey Chaucer penned a poem which contains what is considered to be the first historical reference to Valentine's Day as a time when 'every bird comes there to chose his mate'.
27. In what country is Valentine's Day practiced by women rather being obligated to purchase chocolate for men?
Answer: Japan
Valentine's Day in Japan is traditionally celebrated by women buying dark chocolate for males. These treats have different appellations for platonic associates as opposed to romantic interests, with many of them going to male coworkers.
28. Which was the first company to create heart-shaped boxes containing Valentine's Day chocolates?
Answer: Cadbury
In 1861 John Cadbury's son, Richard, began packing Cadbury chocolates in heart-shaped boxes (dubbed "Fancy Boxes") specifically for Valentine's Day.
29. In what year was Valentine's Day removed from the Roman calendar?
Answer: 1969
Pope Paul VI removed the Valentine's Day feast from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 due to lack of verifiable information about Saint Valentine.
30. In terms of flower sales, which is the only holiday in the U.S. that outperforms Valentine's Day?
Answer: Mother's Day
A fourth of all flower and plant purchases for the year are made during Mother's Day.
31. What is name of the holiday also celebrated on 14 February yet dedicated to recognizing singles?
Answer: Quirkyalone Day
Observers of International Quirkyalone Day are advised to celebrate platonic, familial and self love in addition to romance on 14 February.
32. If a person is shot with one of Cupid's lead-tipped arrows, what emotion do they feel?
Answer: Repulsion
Unlike Cupid's golden arrows which induce feelings of love in its targets, the lead arrow makes the victim loathe and want to get away from the first person they see.
33. Which US state actually produces the most chocolate?
Answer: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, home of the Hershey Company as well as Wilbur Chocolate, produces more chocolate than any other state.
34. Which country tops the list as the world's foremost chocolate producer?
Answer: United States
Accounting for almost 30% of all chocolate made worldwide, the United States holds the distinction as the world's foremost producer of this treat.
35. What is the name of the pagan festival that used to be held during the same period as Valentine's Day?
Answer: Lupercalia
Lupercalia was a festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. It was held on the ides of February, i.e. the middle of that month.
36. What is the single most-popular gift on Valentine's Day?
Answer: Candy
Candy is extremely popular during Valentine's Day, with chocolate of course being on top of the list.
37. In the United States, approximately how many people annually propose marriage to their sweetheart on Valentine's Day?
Answer: 220,000
This Valentine's Day, an average of 220,000 single Americans will muster up the heart to ask their significant other's hand in marriage!
38. What type of tree did the jailer's daughter who befriended Saint Valentine plant to commemorate his life?
Answer: Almond
After Valentine's execution the jailer's daughter, Julia, planted an almond tree with pink blossoms near his grave.
39. Approximately how much money did Britons spend on Valentine's Day gifts in 2015?
Answer: £2 Billion
In 2015 Britons spent approximately £2 billion (£1.9 billion, to be exact) on cards, candies, flowers and other Valentine's Day gifts!
40. Which nation has a holiday celebrating love on the 14th of every month?
Answer: South Korea
In South Korea, the 14th of every month is designated to 12 respective holidays where loved ones are to be acknowledged.
41. In what year is Saint Valentine of Rome said to have been martyred?
Answer: 269
St. Valentine was born in 226 and executed in 269, thus making him a little over 40 years old at the time of his death.
42. Which world-changing invention was patented on Valentine's Day, 1876?
Answer: Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone on 14 February 1876, though a similar, controversial patent was also filed that same day by another inventor, Elisha Gray.
43. Cupid is described as having which ailment, according to Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?
Answer: Blindness
Shakespeare describe Cupid as being blind as a metaphor for true love being based on inward qualities, not looks.
44. Which city receives Valentine's Day cards annually addressed to the fictional "Juliet" of Shakespeare fame?
Answer: Verona
Verona, Italy is the setting of William Shakespeare's timeless "Romeo and Juliet" (1595), and to this day the city still receives thousands of Valentine's addressed to "Juliet"!
