Valentine's Day Hearts and History

The Day Itself

1. 100 On which date is Valentine's Day celebrated each year? Response: February 14 Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
2. 200 Besides the heart and Cupid, which birds are a Valentine's Day symbol? Response: doves Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
3. 300 Which flowers are often sent on Valentine's Day? Response: red roses Flowers, such as red roses (pictured), are often sent on Valentine's Day. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
4. 400 In 18th-century England, what were the greeting cards couples sent each other called? Response: valentines In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
5. 500 Which 8th-century church book recorded the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14? Response: the Gelasian Sacramentary The 8th-century Gelasian Sacramentary recorded the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine on February 14. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”

Saint Valentine

1. 100 According to an early tradition, what did Saint Valentine give back to his jailer's blind daughter? Response: sight According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
2. 200 How did Valentine sign his farewell letter, in an 18th-century addition to the legend? Response: Your Valentine Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: tradition maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor; an 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer's daughter a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell before his execution. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
3. 300 The legend says Valentine married Christian soldiers who had been forbidden to marry. By whom? Response: the Roman emperor Numerous later additions to the legend have better related it to the theme of love: tradition maintains that Saint Valentine performed weddings for Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry by the Roman emperor; an 18th-century embellishment to the legend claims he wrote the jailer's daughter a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell before his execution. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
4. 400 Besides Terni and epilepsy, Saint Valentine is a patron saint of which keepers of hives? Response: beekeepers He is also a patron saint of Terni, epilepsy, and beekeepers. Source: Wikipedia, “Saint Valentine”
5. 500 In which Rome basilica is Saint Valentine's flower-crowned skull shown? Response: the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin His skull, crowned with flowers, is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. Source: Wikipedia, “Saint Valentine”

Cupid

1. 100 Which Roman goddess of love is Cupid's mother? Response: Venus He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars. Source: Wikipedia, “Cupid”
2. 200 Which god of war is often named as Cupid's father? Response: Mars He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the god of war Mars. Source: Wikipedia, “Cupid”
3. 300 What does Cupid carry that gives him his power? Response: the bow and arrow During this time, his iconography acquired the bow and arrow that represent his source of power: a person, or even a deity, who is shot by Cupid's arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire. Source: Wikipedia, “Cupid”
4. 400 In which tale is Cupid a main character, wounded by his own weapons? Response: the tale of Cupid and Psyche He is a main character only in the tale of Cupid and Psyche, in which he is wounded by his own weapons and experiences the ordeal of love. Source: Wikipedia, “Cupid”
5. 500 Someone Cupid shoots is filled with uncontrollable what? Response: desire During this time, his iconography acquired the bow and arrow that represent his source of power: a person, or even a deity, who is shot by Cupid's arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire. Source: Wikipedia, “Cupid”

Candy Hearts

1. 100 What else are the small heart-shaped candies with printed messages called? Response: conversation hearts Sweethearts (also known as conversation hearts) are small heart-shaped sugar candies sold around Valentine's Day. Source: Wikipedia, “Sweethearts (candy)”
2. 200 Which message is the most sought after on the candy hearts? Response: Marry Me The most sought-after motto is "Marry Me". Source: Wikipedia, “Sweethearts (candy)”
3. 300 Which newer message replaced Fax Me on the candy hearts? Response: Text Me For example, the outdated "Fax Me" was retired, and the more modern "Text Me" was added. Source: Wikipedia, “Sweethearts (candy)”
4. 400 In which year did Daniel Chase start printing sayings on the candy? Response: 1866 Daniel Chase, Oliver's brother, began printing sayings on the candy in 1866. Source: Wikipedia, “Sweethearts (candy)”
5. 500 Which candy company bought Sweethearts in 2018? Response: the Spangler Candy Company Sweethearts were made by the New England Confectionery Company, or Necco, before being purchased by the Spangler Candy Company in 2018. Source: Wikipedia, “Sweethearts (candy)”

Love in Old Stories

1. 100 Which English poet wrote the Parlement of Foules? Response: Geoffrey Chaucer The Parlement of Foules (modernized: Parliament of Fowls), also called the Parlement of Briddes (Parliament of Birds) or the Assemble of Foules (Assembly of Fowls), is a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340s–1400) made up of approximately 700 lines. Source: Wikipedia, “Parlement of Foules”
2. 200 In the Parlement of Foules, which creatures gather to choose their mates? Response: birds Here Nature is convening a parliament at which the birds will all choose their mates. Source: Wikipedia, “Parlement of Foules”
3. 300 Which ancient Roman festival was held from February 13 to 15? Response: Lupercalia In Ancient Rome, Lupercalia was observed February 13–15 on behalf of Pan and Juno, pagan gods of love, marriage and fertility. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
4. 400 Who sold the first mass-produced valentines in the United States, shortly after 1847? Response: Esther Howland In the United States, the first mass-produced Valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828–1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”
5. 500 In the 19th century, handmade valentine cards gave way to what? Response: mass-produced greetings In the 19th century, handmade cards gave way to mass-produced greetings. Source: Wikipedia, “Valentine's Day”

Final round: Hearts and History

Chaucer's Parlement of Foules holds one of the earliest references to Valentine's Day as a special day for whom? Response: lovers The poem, which is in the form of a dream vision in rhyme royal stanza, contains one of the earliest references to the idea that St. Valentine's Day is a special day for lovers. Source: Wikipedia, “Parlement of Foules”