Valentine's Day <3

#33 Week 7

Author

Sigrun Sørumgård
February 14, 2025

Explore the history, traditions, and romance behind this day where we celebrate love!

  1. Cupid has what name in Greek mythology?

  2. In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of whom?

  3. William Shakespeare mentions Valentine's Day in which of his plays?

  4. What insanely popular website debuted on Valentine's Day in 2005?

  5. In which city do you find the famous "Juliet's House", where thousands of love letters are sent every year?

  6. In which country is Valentine's Day known as "Friends' Day?"

  7. What revolutionary invention was patented on Valentine's Day?

  8. What fruit was once known as a "love apple" for its purported aphrodisiac properties?

  9. Which US state produces the most roses for Valentine's Day?

  10. In which country is White Day celebrated on March 14 as a follow-up to Valentine's Day?

The Wonder Wall

  • Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world.

  • Valentine's Day also has pagan roots alongside its connection to St. Valentine. It may have originated in Lupercalia, a festival of fertility celebrated on February 15 in ancient Rome. Lupercalia was dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunus, and the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. It was celebrated with animal sacrifices and gently slapping women and crop fields with goat hides dipped in blood, which was thought to help fertility.

  • In the United States, roses are synonymous with Valentine's Day as a symbol of romantic love. The Danes instead prefer the delicate snowdrop. Men and women alike give away these charming flowers, either fresh or pressed, to both love interests and friends. The snowdrop is a symbol of love, charity and friendship, thanks to an old European folk tale. According to legend, the snowdrop was the only flower willing to share its color with snow at the beginning of creation. Forever after, the snow and the snowdrop have been friends. The snow protects the flower and allows it to thrive and grow well before the start of spring. Snowdrops are naturally romantic flowers anyway, with tiny heart-shaped marks at the ends of their white petals.

Yesterday´s Questions & Answers

  1. How old was Cleopatra when she became queen of Egypt?

    Following the death of her father, Ptolemy XII Auletes, Cleopatra ascended to the throne in 51 BCE, at the age of 18. Cleopatra began her reign alongside her brother Ptolemy XIII, but falling-out between them led to a civil war.

  2. Which city served as Cleopatra's capital?

    Alexandria. Ptolemaic pharaohs (as Cleopatra was) were crowned by the Egyptian high priest of Ptah at Memphis, but resided in the multicultural and largely Greek city of Alexandria, established by Alexander the Great.

  3. What language did Cleopatra grow up speaking, reading, and writing?

    During her early childhood, Cleopatra was brought up in the palace of Alexandria in Egypt and received a primarily Hellenistic Greek education. By adulthood she was well-versed in many languages, including Egyptian, Ethiopian, Hebrew, Arabic, Median, Parthian, Latin, and her native Koine Greek.

  4. What method did Cleopatra reportedly use to secretly meet Julius Caesar in Alexandria?

    She was smuggled into his palace rolled inside a carpet (or possibly a linen sack).

  5. What was the name of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar’s son?

    Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, known as Caesarion.

  6. Which Egyptian goddess was Cleopatra often associated with?

    Cleopatra was identified with the Egyptian goddess, Isis, who is equated with Aphrodite and Venus. Cleopatra proclaimed herself to be the reincarnation of Isis, and temples to the goddess sprang up all over the ancient world.

  7. Which famous playwright wrote a tragedy about Cleopatra’s life in 1609?

    William Shakespeare (Antony and Cleopatra).

  8. Who played Cleopatra in the 1963 film, named exactly Cleopatra?

    Elizabeth Taylor portrayed Cleopatra in the 1963 film Cleopatra, a role that made her a Hollywood icon. The movie was one of the most expensive ever made and sparked her legendary romance with co-star Richard Burton.

  9. Which Roman leader did Cleopatra fall in love with after Julius Caesar was killed?

    Cleopatra and Mark Antony fell in love and formed a powerful alliance against Rome. After their defeat at the Battle of Actium, they retreated to Egypt. Facing capture by Octavian, they both died - Antony by his own sword and Cleopatra, legend says, by the bite of an asp.

  10. How old was Cleopatra when she died?

    Cleopatra was 39 years old when she died. This is a historical fact that is widely accepted. Cleopatra was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt and she died in 30 BC. Cleopatra's death marked the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the beginning of Roman Egypt.