Special Sub-Topic: St. Valentine's Day Trivia Click Here To Play: St. Valentine's Day Trivia

Approximately how many boxes of chocolate were sold for St. Valentine's Day in 2003?

36 million. This figure comes from the Chocolate Manufacturer's Association.

One legend of St. Valentine contends that he was a priest in third century Rome. The Emperor outlawed marriage because single men made better warriors. Valentine, however, continued to perform marriages in secret. When the Emperor discovered what Valentine was doing he ordered that Valentine be put to death. Who was the Emperor?

Claudius II. Claudius II died of the plague not long after the death of Valentine. He is one of the few Roman emperors to die a "natural" death.

Others claim that the Christian church decided to celebrate the feast of Valentine in an effort to 'christianize' the celebrants of a pagan festival that was held in mid-February. What was the pagan festival?

Lupercalia. Lupercalia was considered a purification and fertility rite.

The oldest known valentine that is still in existence today was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. Where was Charles when he penned this valentine?

In the Tower of London. The greeting is now located in the British Library in London.

Approximately what percentage of Valentine's Day cards are purchased by women?

85. This is according to the Greeting Card Association.

Approximately how many Valentine's Day cards are sent each year?

1 billion. Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. Christmas is first with approximately 2.6 billion cards sent.

Cupid is whose son?

Venus. Venus was the Goddess of Love and Beauty.

In what Shakespeare play is St. Valentine's Day mentioned?

Hamlet. Ophelia sings, "Good morrow! 'Tis St. Valentine's Day; All in the morning betime; And I a maid at your window,; To be your valentine!"

The most notorious St. Valentine's Day was in 1929 when seven people were gunned down in an assassination attempt in Chicago. Five members of one mobster's gang planned to kill members of a rival gang, including the leader. What gang planned the shooting, and who was the main target?

Al Capone's gang planned to kill Bugs Moran.. Bugs Moran was on his way to the garage where the killing took place, but turned away when he saw someone dressed as a policeman (the disguise of the killers) and escaped. One of the seven killed was an innocent man who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A Roman myth says that roses grew when Cupid was carrying a certain liquid to the gods on Mt. Olympus. Cupid spilled the liquid and from that spot roses grew. What was the liquid?

nectar. Nectar was the drink of the gods, ambrosia the food of the gods.