~~ QUIZ ANSWERS ~~

1. "Valentine's Day," has its origins in the Pagan rite of... D) The annual Roman fertility rite dates back to the 4th century BC Young men drew from a box the names of young women, who became their companions.
2. Why is the name "Asterius" important to the Valentine's Day story? B) Asterius was Valentine's jailer, and legend has it that his daughter's blindness was cured by Valentine. In a farewell note to her, Valentine wrote the message "From Your Valentine."
3. Why does an "X" represent the kiss? C) In days of old, when many did not know how to write, and X or the sign of the cross was accepted as a sworn oath. Sincerity of the oath was often finalized with a kiss of the X, hence the connection.
4. Who declared February 14th to be "Saint Valentine's Day" in 496 AD? C) Pope Gelasius named February 14 in honor of St. Valentine as the patron saint of lovers in 496 AD. to distance the church from pagan rituals.
5. Who is the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty, and is associated with Valentine's Day? C) Cupid, the cherub who totes love potion-dipped arrows, is the son of Venus.
6. Which Shakespearean character said, "Good morrow! 'Tis St. Valentine's Day"? D) In Britain and Italy, some unmarried women got up before sunrise on Valentine's Day to stand by the window, believing that the first man they see, or someone who looks like him, will marry them within a year. In "Hamlet" the love within Ophelia's madness is shown when she speaks about Valentines Day, referring to the events of romance that she was denied. "Good morrow! 'Tis St. Valentine's Day, All in the morning be time, And I a maid at your window, To be your valentine!"
7. Sending anonymous Valentine's Day cards in 18th Century England became fashionable after this happened... B) There was a great increase in anonymous Valentine's Day cards — particularly risqué ones — in 18th-century England, when a reduction in postal rates made it affordable and fashionable.
8. Valentines known as "penny dreadfuls" were called "dreadful" because they contained... B) From the mid-1800's to the early 1900's, many people sent comic valentines called penny dreadfuls. These cards sold for a penny and featured insulting verses.
9. Why did the Allied governments outlaw troops from the writing XXX in letters home during WWII? B) So concerned were the Allies that "XXX" could be used to transmit messages by spies, the practice of sending a kiss through the mail was banned during the war.
10. Who sent the earliest surviving Valentine's Day card? A) Charles, the Duke of Orleans wrote a Valentine's Day card to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London.