Valentine's Day Quiz

On which date is Valentine's Day celebrated?

• 13 February
• 14 February
• 15 February
• 1 March

Answer: 14 February. Valentine's Day falls on 14 February, the feast day of Saint Valentine in the Western Christian calendar.

In Roman mythology, which winged god of love makes people fall in love by shooting them with arrows?

• Mars
• Mercury
• Cupid
• Apollo

Answer: Cupid. Cupid, son of Venus, is the Roman god of desire. His Greek counterpart is Eros, and his bow and arrow still decorate Valentine cards.

In "XOXO" at the end of a love note, what does the X stand for?

• A hug
• A kiss
• A wink
• A smile

Answer: A kiss. X stands for a kiss and O for a hug, so XOXO means "hugs and kisses".

Which planet is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty?

• Venus
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Neptune

Answer: Venus. Venus is named after the Roman goddess of love. It is also the brightest planet in our night sky.

Which of these is NOT a traditional Valentine's Day symbol?

• Red rose
• Cupid's arrow
• Lovebirds
• Jack-o'-lantern

Answer: Jack-o'-lantern. The carved pumpkin jack-o'-lantern belongs to Halloween. Red roses, Cupid's arrows and lovebirds are all classic Valentine motifs.

In Hindu mythology, who is the god of love, often compared to Cupid because he carries a bow and flower-tipped arrows?

• Kamadeva
• Indra
• Varuna
• Agni

Answer: Kamadeva. Kamadeva is the Hindu god of love. He is pictured with a sugarcane bow and arrows tipped with flowers - a striking parallel to Cupid.

Thousands of letters addressed to Juliet arrive every year in which Italian city, the setting of Romeo and Juliet?

• Venice
• Florence
• Verona
• Rome

Answer: Verona. Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet in Verona. Volunteers there reply to the letters people send to Juliet from around the world.

In Finland, 14 February is called Ystävänpäivä. Who is the day mainly about?

• Friends
• Grandparents
• Teachers
• Pets

Answer: Friends. Ystävänpäivä means "Friend's Day". Finns use it to remember friends rather than only romantic partners.

Galentine's Day, which celebrates female friendship on 13 February, began with a 2010 episode of which American sitcom?

• Friends
• The Office
• Parks and Recreation
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Answer: Parks and Recreation. In a 2010 Parks and Recreation episode, Leslie Knope throws a "Galentine's Day" brunch for her female friends - and fans turned it into a real tradition.

In Japan, women traditionally give chocolates on 14 February. What is the name of the day one month later, 14 March, when men return the favour?

• Black Day
• Silver Day
• Green Day
• White Day

Answer: White Day. White Day falls on 14 March in Japan and South Korea. Men give return gifts to those who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day.

The earliest known link between Valentine's Day and romantic love appears in the 14th-century poetry of which English writer?

• William Shakespeare
• Geoffrey Chaucer
• John Milton
• William Wordsworth

Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer. Saint Valentine's feast had no known romantic meaning until Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about birds choosing their mates on "Seynt Valentynes day".

Which ancient Roman festival, held in mid-February, is often (though debatably) linked to the origins of Valentine's Day?

• Saturnalia
• Lupercalia
• Floralia
• Vestalia

Answer: Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a purification and fertility rite. Many historians doubt any direct link, since the romantic side of Valentine's Day appears centuries later.

Which British chocolate maker is credited with creating the first heart-shaped boxes of chocolates for Valentine's Day in Victorian times?

• Fry's
• Rowntree's
• Terry's
• Cadbury

Answer: Cadbury. Richard Cadbury of the Birmingham chocolate family designed decorated heart-shaped boxes, which helped make a box of chocolates the standard Valentine's gift.

Brazil celebrates Dia dos Namorados (Lovers' Day) on which date instead of 14 February?

• 12 June
• 14 March
• 1 May
• 7 July

Answer: 12 June. Brazilians celebrate on 12 June, the eve of the feast of Saint Anthony, who is traditionally linked with marriage.

Esther Howland, called the "Mother of the American Valentine" for popularising Valentine greeting cards in the 1800s, was born in which US state?

• Texas
• California
• Massachusetts
• Virginia

Answer: Massachusetts. Howland was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. She popularised lacy, layered paper valentines and turned card-making into a business.