Valentine’s Day has evolved over centuries, from a Roman festival to a global celebration of love. Each February 14, people exchange gifts, cards, and flowers, but do you know the history behind these romantic traditions? From Saint Valentine’s legacy to the rise of Valentine’s Day cards, this trivia quiz dives into the fascinating history of the holiday. Test your knowledge with these 28 trivia questions, and discover how Valentine’s Day became the holiday of love we know today.
Related Trivia:
1. Which saint is Valentine’s Day named after?
Reveal Answer
Saint Valentine
2. In which century did Valentine’s Day first become associated with romance?
Reveal Answer
14th century
3. Which ancient Roman festival is believed to have influenced the creation of Valentine’s Day?
Reveal Answer
Lupercalia
4. Who declared February 14th as a day to honor Saint Valentine?
Reveal Answer
Pope Gelasius I
5. In which country did the tradition of sending Valentine’s Day cards originate?
Reveal Answer
England
6. In what year did Hallmark first produce Valentine’s Day cards?
Reveal Answer
1913
7. What is the name of the Roman god of love often associated with Valentine’s Day?
Reveal Answer
Cupid
8. In the Middle Ages, people believed that birds began their mating season on which day?
Reveal Answer
February 14
9. Which famous English poet wrote the first recorded Valentine’s Day poem?
Reveal Answer
Geoffrey Chaucer
10. What flower is considered the traditional symbol of love and is popular on Valentine’s Day?
Reveal Answer
Red rose
11. Which 15th-century French duke is believed to have written the oldest known Valentine?
Reveal Answer
Charles, Duke of Orléans
12. In Japan, what do women traditionally give men on Valentine’s Day?
Reveal Answer
Chocolate
13. In Finland, what alternative name is given to Valentine’s Day, celebrating friendship?
Reveal Answer
Friend’s Day
14. Who popularized the tradition of sending Valentine’s Day cards in America?
Reveal Answer
Esther Howland
15. What year was Valentine’s Day first celebrated as a public holiday in Britain?
Reveal Answer
1537
16. Which company is famous for producing the tiny candy hearts with Valentine’s Day messages?
Reveal Answer
NECCO (New England Confectionery Company)
17. What color rose symbolizes friendship, which is often given on Valentine’s Day?
Reveal Answer
Yellow
18. Which country is known for celebrating Valentine’s Day with a festival called “Dia dos Namorados”?
Reveal Answer
Brazil
19. Which English king officially recognized Valentine’s Day in the 15th century?
Reveal Answer
King Henry V
20. When did Valentine’s Day become a mainstream celebration in the United States?
Reveal Answer
Mid-1800s
21. In which country is Valentine’s Day celebrated as “La Festa degli Innamorati”?
Reveal Answer
Italy
22. What were medieval Europeans often gifted as Valentine’s tokens instead of cards?
Reveal Answer
Handmade love notes
23. In which century did red roses become popular Valentine’s Day gifts?
Reveal Answer
18th century
24. Who is the Greek god of love, equivalent to the Roman Cupid?
Reveal Answer
Eros
25. In what year did Pope Gelasius I establish February 14 as Saint Valentine’s Day?
Reveal Answer
496 AD
26. What does a single red rose symbolize when given as a Valentine gift?
Reveal Answer
Love at first sight
27. In which European country is Valentine’s Day celebrated with a “lovers’ lottery” tradition?
Reveal Answer
France
28. Which British writer described Valentine’s Day as “a day of sending love tokens”?
Reveal Answer
Samuel Pepys