Valentine's Day quiz

Named after a third-century Christian saint and incorporating elements of even earlier pagan ceremonies, Valentine's Day is one of our oldest holidays.

It was proclaimed a day in honor of St. Valentine in 498 A.D. by Pope Gelasius. But Celts, Romans and other early pagan cultures had long held celebrations of love and fertility at that time of year. One was the Roman Lupercalia festival, commemorating the god Lupercus.

Today, it has become a celebration of not only romance but all kinds of love and affection, including family and friends.

In honor of this venerable holiday, we've come up with a Valentine's Day quiz. Test your romance I.Q. with the following:

1. Which event probably started the tradition of celebrating Feb. 14 as the holiday of romance and love?

a. Ancient Romans brought gifts of love to their virgin maidens on that date.

b. St. Valentine sacrificed his life for love on Feb.14.

c. For the Celts, this date traditionally marked the beginning of mating season for birds.

d. A festival honoring Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was held on that date.

2. Is any subject talked about by poets more often than love? Maybe, but a lot of great love poems have been written over the years. Can you match these lines with their authors?

a. "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be."

b. "For you see, each day I love you more,

Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow."

c. "She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies."

d. "If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee."

e. "O, my luv's like a red red rose

That's newly sprung in June."

f. "Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,

Which I gaze on so fondly today."

g. "Drink to me, only, with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine."

h. "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou are more lovely and more temperate."

i. "Come live with me and be my love,