049 Valentine's Day - One Minute History

The video explores the history and evolution of Valentine's Day, starting with the martyrdom of St. Valentine, who was believed to have been beheaded for helping Christian couples wed. It then discusses how Valentine's Day became a holiday, with references by Jeffrey Chaucer and the Duke of Orleans' poem. By the mid-18th century, exchanging tokens of affection became common. Esther Howland's mass production of Valentine's cards popularized the tradition further. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated worldwide, with millions of roses and cards exchanged annually, including letters sent to Juliet in Verona, Italy.

What is one belief about why St. Valentine was executed?

• For stealing from the church

• For writing love poems

• For helping Christian couples marry

• For refusing to pay taxes

Who is credited with making Valentine's Day a special day for lovers in literature?

• Charles Dickens

• Jane Austen

• Geoffrey Chaucer

• William Shakespeare

What did the Duke of Orleans do that is significant to Valentine's Day history?

• He organized the first Valentine's Day parade

• He invented the Valentine's Day card

• He declared Valentine's Day a public holiday

• He wrote a poem to his wife while imprisoned

Who is known as the 'mother of Valentine' for mass-producing Valentine's cards?

• Esther Howland

• Louisa May Alcott

• Emily Dickinson

• Mary Shelley

Approximately how many roses are exchanged worldwide on Valentine's Day each year?

• 200 million

• 100 million

• 50 million

• 10 million