Villanova’s campus will soon be filled with sweet tarts and candy hearts. Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and there are many events on campus to get Villanovans in the red and pink spirit.
The campus festivities began on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Quizzo. The Campus Activities Team (CAT) hosted a Valentine’s Day-inspired “Sweet Quizzo.”
Traditionally, Quizzo consists of three rounds, each round becoming increasingly more difficult.
The first round of “Sweet Quizzo” posed multiple-choice questions. What are the tips of Cupid’s arrows made from? What day was the Valentine’s Day Massacre? What state became official on Valentine’s Day?
The second round featured questions about various romantic comedy movies. Some of the romcoms referenced included Titanic, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 13 Going on 30.
For the final round, participants had to guess the song title based on a short clip provided. Bonus points were awarded if participants could also mention the song’s release year. Some of the songs played were Rihanna’s Love On The Brain and Beyoncé’s Love On Top.
The winners were awarded Valentine’s Day-themed gift baskets, which included a teddy bear, a heart-shaped mug, sweetheart candies and flower Legos.
“Out of all the holidays, [Valentine’s Day is] just the sweetest and the cutest,” co-Director of Game Night for CAT, sophomore Caitlin Cason, said. “I just think it’s so sweet.”
Cason and her co-director, sophomore Kyla Armistad, will also host a Valentine’s Day-themed bingo on Thursday, Feb. 13 in Spit at 9 p.m.
“This bingo will have a special twist on it,” Armistad said.
Also on Thursday, Feb. 13, CAT will host an event called “Petals and Patterns.” This event will feature bouquet crafting and henna tattoos in the West Lounge from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
CAT also sponsored a “Sweets and Stuffing” event on Tuesday, Feb. 11 in COVA. Participants were able to stuff a heart pillow while enjoying snacks from a chocolate fondue dipping fountain.
Other student groups on campus will also partake in Valentine’s Day festivities.
The Villanova Singers are known around campus for performing “Singing Valentines” each year on Feb. 14. This has been a tradition within the group since 1979.
The Singers travel in quartets all over Villanova’s property, delivering Valentines to students, faculty and staff. The song’s tune is based on the lullaby, You Are My Sunshine.
“It’s just become this cultural bonding thing inside of the school as a whole, not even just Singers,” Singers President Jacob Scotto said. “That’s our day, we spend all day together. It’s just a great day to run around, spread joy, honestly. People have really started anticipating it, I think.”
The musical messages can be delivered virtually through email or phone call, or in person to a classroom or as a dormitory wakeup.
This year, because Valentine’s Day is on a Friday, the Singers decided to deliver their classroom valentines on Thursday, Feb. 13. The wakeups and virtual messages will occur as normal, on the 14th.
The Singers have been selling Singing Valentines online. The Singers also tabled in the Connelly Center on Monday, Feb. 11 through Wednesday, Feb. 13.
“It’s just great to see people have fun and enjoy it as much as we do,” Scotto said.
Also hoping to fundraise through Valentine’s Day, the Villanova University Pastoral Musicians (VPM) sold flowers in the Connelly Center on Monday, Feb. 10 and Tuesday, Feb. 11.
They will put the money toward their upcoming Spring Break pilgrimage to France.
“I’m excited to be able to provide people an easier way to show others their affection for each other, since it can be hard to get off campus to get flowers sometimes, I’d say,” Villanova Pastoral Musicians Instrumental Coordinator Vincent Vandiver said.
Rosie’s Coffee at Villanova Station has also been serving food and drink specials with Valentine’s Day-related puns. Some featured drinks include the “Lights Out Latte,” “Lover’s Bouquet” and “Swipe Right Smoothie.”
Whether Villanovans celebrate Valentine’s Day through Valentine’s Day Bingo, a wakeup song or a “Lights Out Latte,” the campus will certainly have a lovely spread of activities.
