1. Who first linked St. Valentine with love and romance?

2. Although numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine, the Catholic Church honour only how many St. Valentine's on Feburary the 14th?

3. The earliest surviving valentine is a rondeau written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his "valentined" wife. In which century was this written?

4. Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote this valentine whilst being held captive in the Tower of London. At which famous battle was he captured? Bonus point for the year.

5. Amusingly, in some US states, St. Valentines day is often referred to as "SAD". What does "SAD" stand for?

6. According to one legend, St. Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II. What had Valentine performed in order to warrant his persecution and eventual execution?

7. What are Vinegar valentines?

8. Today, an X on a card or letter represents a kiss, something that is believed to have it's origins in medieval times. What was the original meaning of the X?

9. Nowadays we give chocolates, cards or flowers to our loved-ones on Valentines day. This however is a modern tradition. What was given before this modern tradition?

10. In the Middle Ages, when knights jousted, they would dedicate their performance to a lady of the court whom they admired. To let everyone know how he felt, a knight would pin a handkerchief or a scarf belonging to the woman on which part of his body?

ANSWERS

1. Geoffrey Chaucer, an English author, poet and philosopher (The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer)

2. Two: Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni.

3. Fifteenth-century 
    (Je suis desja d'amour tann?
    Ma tres doulce Valentin?e?)

4. The Battle of Agincourt, 1415

5. Singles Awareness Day

6. The ceremony of marriage. Claudius II had ordered all young men to remain single as they made better soldiers, Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies

7. Greeting cards that come in the form of an insult. (Often decorated with a caricature and, below that, an insulting poem. Ostensibly given on Valentine's Day, the caricature and poem is about the "type" that the recipient belongs to--spinster, floozy, dude, scholar, etc. They were later also produced in the form of postcards. The cards were first produced in the late Victorian era and enjoyed their greatest popularity in that period and in the first quarter of the 20th century)

8. Very few people were literate, neverlone able to write. When someone was unable to write their name, they drew and X, then kissed it for sincerity.

9. A pair of gloves, symbolising the want for the hand in marriage.

10. Actually on his sleeve, but arm will do too.

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