On the eve of Valentines Day, it’s only fitting to test one’s knowledge. Today’s quiz will separate the real romantics from those who will be sleeping on the couch with the dog tomorrow night.

Let’s start with roses.

Sending a dozen roses means:

1. There are a dozen ways I care about you
2. They are only sold by the dozen
3. I want to spend the rest of my life with you

A red rose is the colour of love, a yellow rose is the colour of:

1. enthusiasm/desire
2. beauty
3. friendship

Valentines Day originated in the United States by Hallmark Greeting Cards in 1935 True or False?

The total number of Valentines cards sent each year is:

• Over 5 million
• Over 50 million
• Over 1 billion

Men purchase 85% of all Valentines Day cards True or False?

In Asia, is it men or women who are expected to buy chocolates for their co-workers on Valentines Day?

In 2008, Saudi Arabia banned the sale of all Valentines items, particularly red items, in an effort to avoid temptation. True or False?

The Saint Valentines Day Massacre was staged by which Italian gangster?

• John Gotti
• Al Capone
• Nicky Scarfo

The Answers Are:

1. Sending a dozen roses means “There are a dozen ways I care about you.” Two dozen means, “There are 24 hours in a day and you think about you every hour.”

2. A yellow rose is the colour of friendship, but an orange or coral rose means enthusiasm or desire. Be careful not to get the two mixed up; you could literally be sending the wrong message.

3. Valentines Day has been around a lot longer than Hallmark. The first romantic link to Valentines Day was by Geoffrey Chaucer and English poet. The Brits had been sending Valentines long before the Americans. It was Esther Howland who first mass produced the heart shaped cards in 1847.

4. There are over 1 billion cards sold world wide, making it the second largest card holiday after Christmas.

5. False - Women not men purchase 85% of all Valentines Day cards.

6. In Asia the custom is for women to give chocolates to their male co-workers.

7. True - Saudi Arabia has banned Valentines Day and the sale of any related items.

8. The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre was staged by Al Capone against Bugs Moran on Thursday February 14, 1929. It seems Moran was muscling in on Capone’s dog track and boot legging businesses. Capone was not actually present for the slaying of the seven mobsters; he was vacationing in Florida.

How well did you score? An eight out of eight might not keep you out of the dog house, but a nice card along with a box of good chocolates will. As an retired florist, I always advise people to avoid roses at Valentines. They are way over priced and seldom last. A huge bouquet of tulips is a better bet, or one of my favourites, an orchid plant - delicate but beautiful.

What was the best Valentines Day card or present you received? We would love to hear about it.

Cheers,

Julie

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 at 10:01 am and is filed under Entertaining, Today's News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.