Valentine’s Day Trivia

Question:

Valentine’s Day is celebrated on Feb. 14, which coincides with which ancient Roman festival?

Answer:

Lupercalia, an ancient fertility festival that honored Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome

Question:

Which religion is associated with Lupercalia?

Answer:

Paganism

Question:

On what day was Lupercalia celebrated?

Answer:

Feb. 15

Question:

How did Valentine’s Day get its name?

Answer:

The holiday is named after St. Valentine, a somewhat mysterious historical figure. Though there are several legends about him, one of the most popular theories is that he was a priest who officiated the weddings of soldiers in the third century A.D. During this time, Roman emperor Claudius II forbade young men from marrying, aiming to strengthen Rome’s soldiers. Legend has it that Claudius figured out what St. Valentine was up to and put him to death, making the saint a martyr for love.

Question:

True or false: St. Valentine is the patron saint of numerous things, including beekeepers and travelers.

Answer:

True

Question:

Which fifth-century pope declared Feb. 14 would be St. Valentine’s Day?

Answer:

Pope Gelasius

Question:

During which century did Valentine’s Day start to be associated with romance and love?

Answer:

The 14th century

Question:

Who wrote the 1375 poem “Parliament of Foules,” commonly believed to be the first record that depicts Valentine’s Day as a romantic day?

Answer:

Geoffrey Chaucer

Question:

Who is believed to have written the oldest valentine still in existance?

Answer:

Charles, Duke of Orleans. The valentine is believed to be a love poem he wrote to his wife in 1415.

Question:

Which English king declared Valentine’s Day a holiday in 1537?

Answer:

King Henry VIII

Question:

When were the first commercial valentines printed in the United States?

Answer:

The mid-1800s

Question:

Who is credited with publishing the first commercial valentine in the United States?

Answer:

Esther Howland. She started selling valentines in her hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, and was nicknamed the “Mother of the American Valentine.” She used colorful paper and lace to create her Valentine’s Day cards.

Question:

Which two U.S. states officially achieved statehood on Feb. 14?

Answer:

Oregon (in 1859) and Arizona (in 1912)

Question:

While Valentine’s Day is associated with romance, some darker events have occurred on the holiday. In which U.S. city did the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre happen on Feb. 14, 1929?

Answer:

Chicago

Question:

What Valentine’s Day movie came out in 2010 and features an array of actors, including Taylor Swift, Julia Roberts, Jessica Biel and Ashton Kutcher?

Answer:

h3> Valentine’s Day

Question:

What 1987 romantic film features Cher and Nicolas Cage? (Hint: The movie was so successful that it received six nominations at the 60th Academy Awards.)

Answer:

Moonstruck

Question:

How did Rose honor Jack’s memory after his passing in Titanic?

Answer:

She changed her name to Rose Dawson.

Question:

What romantic movie is based on a book by Nicholas Sparks and features Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as the leads? (Hint: It’s named after an object.)

Answer:

The Notebook

Question:

What actor played Queen Latifah’s love interest in Just Wright? (Hint: He’s a rapper.)

Answer:

Common

Question:

The late Heath Ledger stole our hearts in this late-’90s teen comedy. What’s the name of the film?

Answer:

h3>10 Things I Hate About You

Question:

What romantic film features an over-the-top wedding in Singapore (the couple must be incredibly rich!)?

Answer:

Crazy Rich Asians

Question:

There’s tons of dancing and singing in this film starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. What’s the movie’s name?

Answer:

La La Land

Question:

In what romantic movie does Whoopi Goldberg play a psychic?

Answer:

Ghost

Question:

What high school rom-com has a teenage girl writing letters to her former crushes?

Answer:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Question:

In The Notebook, what major obstacle keeps Allie and Noah apart for years?

Answer:

Allie’s parents disapproving of Noah and sending her away

Question:

In Pride & Prejudice, what is the name of Mr. Darcy’s grand estate where Elizabeth Bennet begins to see a different side of him?

Answer:

Pemberley

Question:

In La, La Land, what career does Sebastian dream of pursuing?

Answer:

Opening his own jazz club

Question:

In Titanic, what is the sketch Jack draws of Rose,referred to as in the film?

Answer:

h3>“A woman wearing nothing but the heart of the ocean.”

Question:

In 10 Things I Hate About You, the plot is loosely based on which Shakespeare play?

Answer:

The Taming of the Shrew