Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate how we feel about others, especially that someone special. But do you know much about the origin, history, people, and places of this romantic holiday? Or can you recognize the meaning of the symbols and flowers associated with Valentine’s Day?
Table of Contents
If you think you know a great deal, try our Valentine’s Day Trivia Questions. We think you may be in for some surprises! Next, we have Valentine’s Day Trivia Facts to share with your friends and family. Finally, we have a Valentine’s Day Quiz with the answers listed after the questions to see how much you remember from what you have not only read, but also experienced on previous Valentine Day celebrations.
Valentine’s Day Trivia Questions
Think you know a great deal about Valentine’s Day? Well, try to answer our Valentine’s Day Trivia Questions. You may be surprised how many you get wrong (or right)! Our trivia questions work well for a party or classroom game when celebrating this special day.
- Which internal organ was believed to cause love in Medieval times?
- What do women give men on Valentine’s Day in Japan?
- What is the most common phrase used on Valentine’s Day?
- When will babies conceived on Valentine’s Day be born?
- About how many Valentine’s Day cards are given every year?
- What were mean-spirited Valentine’s Day cards were called in the Victorian era?
- What was a mean but comically mocking Valentine’s Day called in the Victorian era?
- What did the “X” at the end of a letter represent before it stood for a kiss?
- Which holidays other than Valentine’s Day account for the most flowers sent?
- What Roman holiday can Valentine’s Day celebrations be traced back to?
- According to legend, where was the oldest-known Valentine’s Day message sent from and by whom?
- Approximately how many heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each Valentine’s Day?
- How many people typically buy Valentines for their cats and dogs?
- About how much money do Americans spend each year on chocolate for Valentine’s Day?
- What country calls Valentine’s Day “Friend’s Day?”
- What increases most people’s heart rate to at least 110 beats per minute?
- Every year, letters to Shakespeare’s Juliet are sent to what city?
- About how many marriage proposals are there on each year on Valentine’s Day?
- The oldest known love poem was written on what?
- What is the name of the brain chemical known as the “love hormone?”
- What color rose does one send to a friend on Valentine’s Day?
- What do florists call a single red rose surrounded by baby’s breath?
- About how many roses are grown for Valentine’s Day each year?
- What fruit (often thought of as a vegetable) was once known as a “love apple” for its supposed aphrodisiac properties?
- Which major invention was patented on Valentine’s Day?
- What do the X’s and O’s at the end of message stand for?
- The name “Valentine” was the name given to which early Christians?
- What is the reason we see hearts used to symbolize love and affection?
- What is the reason almond blossoms appear on many Valentine’s Day cards?
- What is the name of Shakespeare’s play featuring the characters Valentine and Proteus?
- William Shakespeare mentions Valentine’s Day in which of his plays?
- What U.S. state produces most of the country’s red roses?
- What Valentine’s Day candy was first created on equipment made for lozenges?
- When was February 14 first declared Valentine’s Day?
- When was the oldest-known Valentine’s Day message written?
- What is the name of the man who wrote the oldest-known Valentine’s Day message?
- Why did women and girls eat bizarre foods on Valentine’s Day in medieval times?
- About what percentages of all Valentines cards are purchased by women?
- Who receives the most Valentine’s Day Cards?
Valentine’s Day Trivia Facts
When it comes to Valentines Day trivia, facts range from the interesting to the bizarre. We have collected facts from many sources, some of which, we admit, probably have little or no scientific or logical backing. However, they are guaranteed to be fun. Use them for a trivia game or work them into a Valentine’s Day conversation to amaze your family and friends.
- Esther Howland was the first manufacturer of American Valentine’s cards and is called the mother of Valentine’s Day.
- The most Valentine’s Day cards are given to teachers, followed by children, mothers, wives, sweethearts, and pets.
- In Victorian times, it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.
- In Wales, wooden spoons upon which were carved keys and keyholes symbolizing a heart unlocked for love, were given as Valentine’s Day gifts.
- Americans spend approximately 20 billion dollars on jewelry for Valentine’s Day.
- Lace, which is often used on Valentine decorations, is appropriate, since the word is derived from the Latin word laques, meaning “to snare or net,” which is often the purpose of that Valentine’s Day card or gift.
- The word Valentine is derived from a Latin word meaning valor.
- Both men and women would rather receive chocolate than flowers on Valentine’s Day.
- More people celebrate Valentine’s Day outdoors than indoors.
- Science has determined that the color of red is attractive to men.
- Roses are symbolic for love, which is why they are sent on Valentine’s Day.
- The first official record of Valentine’s Day celebrating was in the year 496 in the Roman Empire.
- It was once considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.
- According to research, men spend twice as much as women on Valentine’s Day.
- St. Valentine gave his name to Valentine’s Day because he wrote a letter from prison and signed it “From your Valentine.”
- Valentine was executed on February 14th for marrying couples against the emperor’s wishes as the emperor believed single men made better soldiers.
- The favorite candy in a box of chocolates reportedly is caramels, followed by chocolate-covered nuts, then chocolate-filled, cream-filled, and coconut candies.
- The machine used to make candy hearts was originally used to make medical lozenges.
- Apparently, people consider pink and red the colors of love because about 65% of Americans think that the packaging of Valentine’s Day candies and chocolates should be red and pink.
- The heart is associated with Valentine’s Day as it is considered the source of all human emotions and was once believed to be humans’ center of memory, where feelings of love were recorded.
- French and Italian artists from the 14th century were the first ones to start using the heart we see on Valentine’s Day’s material today.
- The oldest recorded Valentine was a poem Charles Duke of Orleans wrote to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415.
- Necco says about 100,000 conversational candies, which got their heart shape in 1902, are sold every year.
- California is the state with the largest number of chocolate makers.
- Sixteen percent of flowers purchased by women on Valentine’s Day go to themselves.
- Ribbons on modern Valentines have their origin in the Middle Ages, when knights who competed in tournaments gave ribbons with their colors to their sweethearts, hoping for good luck.
- Another Middle Age contribution to Valentine’s Day is the phrase, “Wearing your heart on your sleeve, as names were drawn to determine sweethearts and then pinned on sleeves for one week to announce their feelings.
- Many people choose Valentine’s Day to propose to their special someone.
Valentine’s Day Quiz
Well, now you should be ready for a quiz on Valentine’s Day facts and information. We have divided the quiz into sections based upon subject matter. See which category you and your friends excel in. The creation of categories also makes this section of our article ideal for a fun Valentine’s Day game.
Flower Colors for Valentine’s Day
- What does a mix of red and white roses typically mean?
- What does a white rose one receives on Valentine’s Day mean?
- What flower would you send to someone you meet for the first time and would like to get to know better?
- What flowers mean “Goodbye” when sent to someone on Valentine’s Day?
- What do blue roses signify?
- What rose color carries the meaning of jealousy and infidelity or joy and friendship?
- What flower color is sent on Valentine’s Day to say, “I am sorry”?
Valentine’s Day in Greek Mythology
- Why do depictions of Cupid show him with a bow and arrow?
- Who were Cupid’s parents?
- What is Cupid’s name in Greek mythology?
- Who is Cupid the son of in Roman mythology?
- Who does Cupid fall in love with In Roman mythology?
- Why is Cupid sometimes blindfolded?
- Aphrodite, the love goddess, was said to be born from what?
The History of Valentine’s Day
- Where does the early information about the history of Valentine’s Day come from?
- According to the legend, who wrote the very first Valentine’s message on the eve of his execution and who was it sent to?
- What did the story say St. Valentine did for his jailer’s daughter?
- Why was this fictional St. Valentine being executed?
- St. Valentine is said to be the patron saint of love and what occupation?
- In what year was Saint Valentine said to be martyred for performing marriages defying the emperor’s order not to?
- What Roman emperor called for St. Valentine’s execution?
The Music and Literature of Valentine’s Day
- The poem “The Parliament of Fowls” describing a man’s dream of Cupid preparing his arrows in the Temple of Venus was written by whom?
- What was the name of the singer who had the Top Ten hit in 1961 named “Cupid”?
- Which of Shakespeare’s plays mentions Valentine’s Day?
- What is considered by many to be Shakespeare’s most romantic play?
- What is the name of the Scottish poet who preserved the lyrics of a song as the poem “A Red, Red Rose”?
People and Places of Valentine’s Day
- On Valentine’s Day, New York’s Empire State Building illuminates the top portion with what color?
- What was the name of the Benedictine monk who invented champagne in 1668?
- Which city in the world is considered the city of love and the most traveled to international place on Valentine’s Day?
- What continent produces the most roses sold in the U.S.A. on Valentine’s Day?
- Who invented the first Valentine’s Day candy box?
- What is the name of the notorious gangster who orchestrated the St. Valentine’s Day massacre?
So, now you know more about Valentine’s Day than most people. Use the information in this article to make good choices on flowers to be sent and symbols to be used in creating a unique Valentine’s day message or card.
We suggest planning a special Valentine’s Day party for your family or friends and using the trivia questions or quiz for entertainment or as an icebreaker. Enjoy using our Valentine’s Day trivia for amazing your friends, hosting a game of Valentine’s Day Trivia, or simply for laughing and having fun!
Susan majored in English with a double minor in Humanities and Business at Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University. She taught grades four through twelve in both public and private schools. Subjects included English, U.S. and world history and geography, math, earth and physical science, Bible, information technologies, and creative writing.
Susan has been freelance writing for over ten years, during which time she has written and edited books, newspaper articles, biographies, book reviews, guidelines, neighborhood descriptions for realtors, Power Point presentations, resumes, and numerous other projects.
![30 Fun Field Day Games and Activities [for Kids & Adults]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NDk2OjUwMDM=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAwIDEwMCIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxMDAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
