Around the World
What is considered the worlds most romantic country?
France
According to the National Confectioners Association, what is the most popular chocolate flavour in an assorted chocolate box?
Caramels, followed by chocolate-covered nuts, chocolate-filled, cream-filled, and coconut.
Other than chocolate and flowers, what is the most popular (and expensive) gift option?
Jewelry
True or False: there is more than one St. Valentine?
True (there are approximately a dozen other recognized St. Valentine’s!)
Valentine’s Day is the second largest card-selling holiday of the year behind which other holiday?
Christmas
What country released an error in early Valentine’s Day candy ads, causing women to think they were supposed to give men candy—instead of the other way around?
Japan. Candy makers dubbed March 14th as a “reply day” called “White Day” and urged men to give chocolates to the women.
According to the National Confectioners Association, do men, women, or both, prefer to receive chocolate over flowers?
Both men and women prefer to receive chocolate over flowers.
What culturally new holiday is celebrated on February 13th to celebrate non-romantic relationships?
Galentine’s Day
Where did the first known official celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day take place?
Paris on February 14, 1400, which is when King Charles VI of France established the High Court of Love. The court, entirely run by women, met to deal with marriage contracts, divorces, infidelity, and domestic violence.
Who are the number one recipients of Valentines?
Teachers
What do the Danish give their loved ones in place of roses on Valentines Day?
The people of Denmark give friends and admirers pressed white flowers called snowdrops, along with traditional Valentine’s cards.
What State has the largest number of chocolate makers in the USA?
California is the state with the largest number of chocolate makers (141)
The love goddess Aphrodite was said to be born from what?
Seafoam
Why was February 14th chosen as the date to celebrate Valentine’s Day?
It was a common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14th.
Hallmark began offering Valentine’s Day cards in what year?
1913
Which City in Italy receives ~1,000 letters addressed to Juliet on Valentine’s Day.
Verona - this is where Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet lived.
What was the original shape of the "Conversation Heart" candy?
Round - the iconic Candy Hearts, originally started as round Necco wafers in 1847. In 1902, the candies officially became heart shaped.
What event is rumored to have inspired the the saying "love you to the moon and back"?
It is rumored to have been inspired by the moon race in the 1960s. At any rate, the meaning is clear. If you love someone to the moon and back, you really love them a lot.
St. Valentine is the saint of love and marriage, but also what?
Beekeeping and Epileptics
Before Esther Howland commercialized Valentine's cards, mean-spirit Valentine’s cards were common. What were these called?
Vinegar Valentines, or Penny Dreadfuls. During the Victorian Era and into the 20th century, those who didn’t want the attention of certain suitors would anonymously send these, which would range from sassy to cruel and could be purchased to insult just about anyone in your life.
What country celebrates February 14 as "Friendship Day" (Sobrapaev)?
Estonia - This festival includes everyone, from couples to singles. So not just couples, but family members and friends also exchange gifts and celebrate love.
In what year were "Conversation Hearts" not available?
2019. Necco declared bankruptcy in 2018, forcing the company to close its original plant and sell off its candy brands. Spangler Candy Company ended up acquiring the rights to Sweethearts, and after setting up production in a new plant, Sweethearts returned to shelves in 2020
"Wearing your heart on your sleeve" has origins from honoring which Roman goddess?
Juno. In the Middle Ages, Emperor Claudius II believed unattached men made better soldiers so he declared marriage illegal. As a concession, he encouraged temporary coupling. Once a year, during a Roman festival honoring Juno, men drew names to determine who would be their lady friend for the coming year. Once established, the man would wear her name on his sleeve for the rest of the festival.
According to myth, which two gods was Cupid the son of?
Mercury (the winged messenger god) and Venus (the god of love)
In what year, was the first recorded Valentine given?
The oldest record of a Valentine is a poem Charles, the Duke of Orleans, wrote to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415, in which he refers to his wife as his "Valentine."