Question 1

On what date is Valentine's Day celebrated each year?

Accepted Answer

February 14. Valentine's Day is observed on February 14 in most of the world. It is named after Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr whose feast day was set on this date in the 5th century.

Question 2

Which ancient Roman fertility festival held in mid-February is often considered a precursor to Valentine's Day?

Accepted Answer

Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a Roman festival held around February 13 to 15 to ward off evil spirits and promote fertility. It was eventually replaced by the Christian feast of Saint Valentine.

Question 3

Who is the Roman god of love, often depicted with a bow and arrow on Valentine's cards?

Accepted Answer

Cupid. Cupid is the Roman god of desire and erotic love, the son of the goddess Venus. His Greek counterpart is Eros. He is shown as a winged child whose arrows make people fall in love.

Question 4

Cupid is the Roman god of love. What is his Greek counterpart called?

Accepted Answer

Eros. Eros was the Greek god of love and desire. In later Roman mythology he became Cupid and was reimagined as the mischievous winged child still associated with Valentine's Day.

Question 5

Who is credited with writing the oldest surviving valentine card, sent from the Tower of London in 1415?

Accepted Answer

Charles, Duke of Orleans. Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote a romantic poem to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt. It is now held in the British Library.

Question 6

Which American company helped industrialize Valentine's Day cards starting in the early 20th century?

Accepted Answer

Hallmark. Hallmark began producing Valentine's Day cards in 1913 and helped turn handwritten love notes into a mass-market industry. Today over a billion Valentine's cards are exchanged each year.

Question 7

Roughly how many Valentine's Day cards are exchanged worldwide each year?

Accepted Answer

About 1 billion. Valentine's Day is the second-largest card-sending occasion of the year after Christmas, with estimates of around 1 billion cards exchanged annually around the world.

Question 8

In which century did Geoffrey Chaucer help link Valentine's Day with romantic love in his poetry?

Accepted Answer

The 14th century. Chaucer's 1382 poem 'Parlement of Foules' is widely credited as the first to associate February 14 with romantic love, describing it as the day birds choose their mates.

Question 9

Which Shakespeare play features the doomed romance of two teenagers from feuding families in Verona?

Accepted Answer

Romeo and Juliet. Written around 1595, 'Romeo and Juliet' tells the story of the Montague and Capulet families. It remains the most famous tragic love story in Western literature.

Question 10

Who wrote the novel "Pride and Prejudice", featuring Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy?

Accepted Answer

Jane Austen. Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' was published in 1813. The slow-burn romance between Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy has been adapted dozens of times for film and television.

Question 11

In "Pride and Prejudice", what is the first name of Mr Darcy?

Accepted Answer

Fitzwilliam. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the wealthy, initially aloof gentleman who falls for Elizabeth Bennet. His character has become a defining archetype of the brooding romantic hero.

Question 12

Which Emily Bronte novel tells the tempestuous story of Heathcliff and Catherine on the Yorkshire moors?

Accepted Answer

Wuthering Heights. Published in 1847, 'Wuthering Heights' was Emily Bronte's only novel. Its dark, obsessive love story has divided readers ever since but cemented its place in the romantic canon.

Question 13

In "Gone with the Wind", what is the name of the headstrong heroine pursued by Rhett Butler?

Accepted Answer

Scarlett O'Hara. Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel and the 1939 film adaptation made Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler one of the most famous on-screen couples of all time.

Question 14

Which classic 1942 film ends with the line "We'll always have Paris"?

Accepted Answer

Casablanca. Humphrey Bogart's Rick says the line to Ingrid Bergman's Ilsa before she leaves Casablanca. The film is consistently ranked among the greatest romances in cinema history.

Question 15

In Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility", which two sisters represent the title traits?

Accepted Answer

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Elinor embodies sense (reason and restraint), while Marianne embodies sensibility (emotion and passion). The 1995 film adaptation starred Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet.

Question 16

Who wrote the romantic novel "The Notebook", later adapted into the 2004 Ryan Gosling film?

Accepted Answer

Nicholas Sparks. Nicholas Sparks published 'The Notebook' in 1996. The story of Noah and Allie has become one of the defining modern romance novels and helped launch his career as a bestselling author.

Question 17

Whitney Houston famously covered "I Will Always Love You" for The Bodyguard. Which country star originally wrote and recorded it?

Accepted Answer

Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton wrote 'I Will Always Love You' in 1973 as a farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner. Whitney Houston's 1992 version became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Question 18

Who recorded the 1981 duet "Endless Love"?

Accepted Answer

Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. Written by Lionel Richie, 'Endless Love' was originally recorded as a duet with Diana Ross for the 1981 film of the same name. It became a number one hit and a wedding standard.

Question 19

Which Celine Dion song from "Titanic" became one of the best-selling singles of all time?

Accepted Answer

My Heart Will Go On. Released in 1997, 'My Heart Will Go On' won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and dominated radio play. It has sold over 18 million copies worldwide.

Question 20

Who recorded the 1965 version of "Unchained Melody" famously used in the film "Ghost"?

Accepted Answer

The Righteous Brothers. The Righteous Brothers' version, performed by Bobby Hatfield, was re-released in 1990 after appearing in the pottery wheel scene of 'Ghost' starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.

Question 21

Which Beatles song begins with the lyric "Something in the way she moves..."?

Accepted Answer

Something. 'Something' was written by George Harrison and released on the 1969 album 'Abbey Road'. Frank Sinatra called it one of the greatest love songs ever written.

Question 22

Which Beatles anthem became an iconic statement of universal love during the Summer of Love?

Accepted Answer

All You Need Is Love. 'All You Need Is Love' was released in 1967 and performed live on the first global satellite TV broadcast, watched by an estimated 400 million people.

Question 23

Which Etta James song is a staple of first dances at weddings and was released in 1960?

Accepted Answer

At Last. 'At Last' was originally written for a 1941 musical film and recorded by Glenn Miller, but Etta James's 1960 version became the definitive recording. Beyonce performed it at the 2009 inaugural ball.

Question 24

Which Ed Sheeran song from 2017 became a wedding-first-dance favorite worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Perfect. 'Perfect' was released on Sheeran's album 'Divide' and topped charts in dozens of countries. Sheeran has said he wrote it about his now-wife Cherry Seaborn.

Question 25

Which 2004 romance, based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams?

Accepted Answer

The Notebook. Directed by Nick Cassavetes, 'The Notebook' tells the story of Noah and Allie across decades. The kiss in the rain has become one of the most replayed romantic scenes in modern cinema.

Question 26

In the 1942 film "Casablanca", what is the name of the nightclub run by Rick Blaine?

Accepted Answer

Rick's Cafe Americain. Rick's Cafe is the central setting of the film, where Rick (Humphrey Bogart) is reunited with Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). The pianist Sam famously plays 'As Time Goes By'.

Question 27

Which 1990 romantic comedy stars Julia Roberts as Vivian and Richard Gere as Edward?

Accepted Answer

Pretty Woman. 'Pretty Woman' was directed by Garry Marshall and grossed over 460 million dollars worldwide. It launched Julia Roberts to superstardom and earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

Question 28

In "Titanic" (1997), what is the name of Leonardo DiCaprio's character?

Accepted Answer

Jack Dawson. Jack Dawson is the penniless artist who wins a ticket on the Titanic and falls for first-class passenger Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslet. The film won 11 Academy Awards.

Question 29

Which 1989 romantic comedy explores whether men and women can be just friends?

Accepted Answer

When Harry Met Sally. Written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, 'When Harry Met Sally' stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. The deli scene is one of the most quoted moments in romantic comedy history.

Question 30

Which 1993 Nora Ephron film stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and ends at the Empire State Building?

Accepted Answer

Sleepless in Seattle. Inspired by the 1957 film 'An Affair to Remember', 'Sleepless in Seattle' follows widower Sam and reporter Annie as they slowly find each other across the country.

Question 31

In "Dirty Dancing" (1987), what is the famous line spoken by Johnny before lifting Baby on stage?

Accepted Answer

Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Patrick Swayze delivers the iconic line to retrieve Jennifer Grey for the final dance. The film became a sleeper hit and the soundtrack sold over 32 million copies.

Question 32

Which 2016 musical romance starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is set in Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

La La Land. Directed by Damien Chazelle, 'La La Land' won six Academy Awards. Its bittersweet ending and original songs like 'City of Stars' made it a modern romantic classic.

Question 33

Which flower is the most popular gift on Valentine's Day worldwide?

Accepted Answer

The red rose. Red roses have symbolized love for centuries, partly because they were associated with the Roman goddess Venus. Around 250 million roses are produced specifically for Valentine's Day each year.

Question 34

What is the most popular food gift exchanged on Valentine's Day?

Accepted Answer

Chocolate. Boxes of chocolate became a Valentine's tradition in the Victorian era, when Richard Cadbury produced the first heart-shaped chocolate box in 1868. Today the holiday accounts for over 1 billion dollars in chocolate sales in the US alone.

Question 35

Approximately how much do Americans spend on Valentine's Day each year?

Accepted Answer

Over 20 billion dollars. The National Retail Federation reports US Valentine's Day spending of more than 20 billion dollars annually, covering jewelry, dining out, flowers, candy and cards.

Question 36

In which Parisian bridge did the love-lock tradition become so famous that authorities had to remove the locks?

Accepted Answer

Pont des Arts. The Pont des Arts in Paris became covered in tens of thousands of love locks. In 2015 the city removed roughly 45 tons of padlocks because their weight was damaging the bridge.

Question 37

In which year were Sweethearts conversation hearts candy first produced?

Accepted Answer

1866. Sweethearts, the chalky candy hearts with messages like 'Be Mine' and 'Kiss Me', were first produced by the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) in 1866 and became a Valentine's staple.

Question 38

The heart shape we associate with love does not look like a real heart. What is one theory for its origin?

Accepted Answer

It resembled the silphium seed pod, used as a contraceptive in ancient Rome. One popular theory links the heart symbol to the silphium plant of ancient Cyrene, whose seed pods looked like the modern heart. Other theories cite ivy leaves or stylized human anatomy.

Question 39

Which company introduced the heart-shaped box of chocolates in 1868?

Accepted Answer

Cadbury. Richard Cadbury designed the first heart-shaped Valentine's chocolate box in 1868 in Britain. The boxes were meant to be kept as keepsakes after the chocolates were eaten.

Question 40

In Japan, who traditionally gives chocolate on Valentine's Day?

Accepted Answer

Women give chocolate to men. In Japanese tradition, women give 'giri choco' (obligation chocolate) to male coworkers and 'honmei choco' to romantic partners. Men return the gesture on White Day, March 14.

Valentine's Day Trivia Questions and Answers

Valentine's Day Origins and History

Famous Love Stories and Romance in Literature

Love Songs and Romantic Music

Romantic Movies and Date Night Films

Valentine's Day Traditions and Trivia

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