Easter Trivia Quiz:Easter and Easter Traditions.

1.Easter is a celebration of...

a) The Resurrection of Christ
b) The crucifixion of Christ
c) The Last Supper

2.The word "Easter" comes from...

a) The white Esturian Flower that blooms this time of year
b) "Ostara" the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility
c) The word "East," referring to the rising sun and to spring

3.Lent, the period that comes before Easter, begins on what day?
a) Shrove Tuesday
b) Palm Sunday
c) Ash Wednesday

4.The egg is a symbol of...

a) Rebirth
b) Mourning
c) Fertility

5.When did the rabbit first appear as an Easter symbol?

a) In 16th century Germany
b) When St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland
c) When the 18th century rabbit population in England reached dangerous proportions

6.Where does the custom of Easter baskets originate?

a) From the baskets farmers would use to collect their crops
b) From the custom of people bringing baskets of eggs to the temple of Ishtar/Estra /Oestra
c) From the Catholic custom of bringing Easter food to mass to be blessed

7.Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, celebrates...

a) The edict in 325 AD by the council of Nice that Easter fall on a Sunday
b) The commemoration of the Last Supper
c) The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem

8.Where can you find the world’s largest decorated Easter egg?
a) Romania
b) Ukraine
c) Canada

9. What is supposed to bring people luck at Easter?

a) finding a red boiled egg.
b) wearing new clothes
c) eating hot cross buns

10.In Cyprus they light bonfires at Easter and burn a small figure.Who does this represent ?
a) Jesus
b) the devil
c) Judas

11.In Finnland,Sweden and Denmark children…….

a) dress up as witches and go from door to door asking for sweets.
b) dress up as rabbits and go from door to door giving people boiled eggs.
c) dress up as rabbits and go from door to door and ask people for boiled eggs.
12.In the Netherlands, Belgium and France bells do not ring for a few days before Easter and it is said
they have gone to ……
a) Heaven
b) Rome
c) Jerusalem

13.In the Czech Republic, on Easter Monday, in an old tradition men…….

a) give women a chocolate egg
b) kiss women and dance with them
c) spank women with a special whip

14. On Maunday Thursday,the Thursday before Easter , traditionally the day before Jesus celebrated
Passover, the reigning English Monarch i.e Queen Elizabeth gives people ……
a) money
b) boiled eggs
c) Bibles

KEY

Easter Trivia Quiz:Easter and Easter Traditions.

1.a) The Resurrection of Christ

2.b) "Ostara," the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility
3.c)Ash Wednesday
4.a) Rebirth
5.a)In 16th century Germany
6. b) From the custom of people bringing baskets of eggs to the temple of ishtar/Estra
7.c) The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
8.c) Canada
9. b) wearing new clothes
10.c) Judas
11.a) dress up as witches and go from door to door asking for sweets.
12.b) Rome
13. c) spank women with a special whip
14. a) money
CHRISTMAS QUIZ

1. What date is St Stephen's Day? 26th December

2. In Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol, who was Scrooge's dead business partner? Jacob Marley
3. The song White Christmas was first performed in which 1942 film? Holiday Inn
4. London's Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is traditionally given by which country? Norway
5. In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, '...my true love brought to me nine...' what? Ladies dancing
6. Name the original eight reindeer from the 'Twas the night Before Christmas' poem? Comet, Cupid,
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen (or Dunder and Blixem - The poem is alternatively
titled A Visit from St Nicholas. 'Twas the night Before Christmas' is the first line. The poem was first
published anonymously in 1823 and is commonly attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, although some
believe Henry Livingston was the true author. Rudolph was created later in 1939 by copywriter Robert
May for the Montgomery Ward department store chain, as the main character in a free Christmas
promotional story, which extended the 1823 poem, and was subsequently turned into the popular song
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Incidentally Donner and Blizten mean Thunder and Lightning in
German.)
7. Which Christmas carol includes the lyrics '...To save us all from Satan's power, when we were gone
astray..'? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
8. The character Jack Skellington appears in which 1993 Tim Burton film? The Nightmare before
Christmas
9. What colour are the berries of the mistletoe plant? White
10. In the inspirational 1946 film, It's a Wonderful Life, what's the name of George Bailey's guardian angel?
Clarence (Oddbody)
11. What are the names of the three wise men said to have brought gifts to the baby Jesus? Balthasar,
Melchior, Caspar (or Gaspar - Interestingly the Bible does not states state their names, nor even the
number of wise men: "...there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem... and when they had opened
their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh..." from Matthew 2:1
and 2:11. Thanks A Russell.)
12. What is New Year's Eve called in Scotland? Hogmanay
13. What Christmas item was invented by London baker and wedding-cake specialist Tom Smith in 1847?
Christmas cracker
14. In what year was Band-Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas the UK Christmas chart-topping record
(bonus point each for the years of reissue success by Band Aid II and Band Aid 20)? 1984 (bonus points
- Band Aid II was 1989, Band Aid 20 was 2004)
15. In which modern country is St Nicholas's birthplace and hometown? Turkey (St Nicholas, bishop
'Nikolaos of Myra', 270-343AD, was born a Greek, i.e., of Greek parents in Patara, Lycia. He lived in
and was bishop of Myra, Lycia. Patara and nearby Myra, in Lycia, or fully Lycia et Pamphylia, were
then technically provincial territory of the Roman Empire with no specific country name. Patara became
ruins centuries ago. Where the ancient town of Myra stood, now stands the Turkish town/district of
Demre, Antalya Province, Turkey)
16. Who wrote How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Dr Seuss
17. From which country does the poinsettia plant originate? Mexico
18. Who is officially credited as the author of Auld Lang Syne? Robert Burns
19. How many points does a snowflake have? Six
20. What is the name of the cake traditionally eaten in Italy at Christmas? Panettone
New Year Trivia Quiz

1. Under which calendar is New Year’s Day Jan. 1?

1. Right answer: Gregorian Calendar

New Year’s Day is the first day of the year, January 1, in the Gregorian calendar. Traditionally
the day has been observed as a religious feast, but in modern times the arrival of the New Year
has also become an occasion for spirited celebration and the making of personal resolutions.

2. What calendar determines the date of the Chinese New Year?

1. Right answer: Lunar

The Chinese New Year, traditionally based on the lunar calendar, is celebrated in many
American cities with the roar of blazing firecrackers, dancing dragons made from papier mâché
and cloth, and traditional music.

3. Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the new year for what religion?
1. Right answer: Jewish

Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew, "beginning of the year"), Jewish New Year, celebrated on the first and
second days of the Jewish month of Tishri (falling in September or October) by Orthodox and
Conservative Jews and on the first day alone by Reform Jews. It begins the observance of the
Ten Penitential Days, a period ending with Yom Kippur that is the most solemn of the Jewish
calendar. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are known as the High Holy Days.

4. Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday that begins Dec. 26 and extends through Jan. 1. What does the word mean in
Swahili?
1. Right answer: First fruits

Kwanzaa, or matunda ya kwanza, is Swahili for "first fruits". This is an African American
holiday observed by African communities throughout the world that celebrates family,
community, and culture. Kwanzaa has its roots in the ancient African first-fruit harvest
celebrations from which it takes its name. However, its modern history begins in 1966 when it
was developed by African American scholar and activist Maulana Karenga.

5. In the Middle Ages most European countries used the Julian calendar, so they observed New Year’s Day
when?
1. Right answer: March 25th

In the Middle Ages most European countries used the Julian calendar and observed New Year’s
Day on March 25, called Annunciation Day and celebrated as the occasion on which it was
revealed to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God.

6. The name January is derived from the Roman god Janus. What is he the god of?
1. Right answer: Gates and doors

The name of the month is derived from Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors, and hence of
openings and beginnings. January was the 11th month of the year in the ancient Roman calendar;
in the 2nd century BC, however, it came to be regarded as the first month. On January 1 the
Romans offered sacrifices to Janus so that he would bless the new year.

7. When do the practioners of Tibetan Buddhism celebrate New Year’s?

 1. Right answer: February

Much of the ritual of Tibetan Buddhism is based on the esoteric mysticism of Tantra, devotions
that involve both yoga and mantra, or a mystical formula, and ancient shamanistic practices. On
special holidays the temples, shrines, and altars of the lamas are decorated with symbolic figures;
milk, butter, tea, flour, and similar offerings are brought by the worshipers, animal sacrifices
being strictly forbidden. Tibetan Buddhist religious festivals are numerous. The most notable are
New Year’s, celebrated in February and marking the commencement of spring.

8. The Roman New Year festival was called the Calends, and people decorated their homes and gave each other
gifts. In early times, the ancient Romans gave each other New Year’s gifts of branches from sacred trees. Later
they gave small items, such as nuts or coins, imprinted with pictures of what God?
1. Right answer: Janus

In later years, they gave gold-covered nuts or coins imprinted with pictures of Janus, the god of
gates, doors, and beginnings. January was named after Janus, who had two faces--one looking
forward and the other looking backward. The Romans also brought gifts to the emperor. The
emperors eventually began to demand such gifts.

9. What New Year’s gift did ancient Persians give?

1. Right answer: Eggs

The ancient Persians gave New Year’s gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness.

10. In ancient Egypt what event dictated the timing of New Year’s celebrations?
1. Right answer: Flooding of Nile

In ancient Egypt, New Year was celebrated at the time the River Nile flooded, which was near
the end of September. The flooding of the Nile was very important because without it, the people
would not have been able to grow crops in the dry desert. At New Year, statues of the god Amon
and his wife and son were taken up the Nile by boat. Singing, dancing, and feasting was done for
a month, and then the statues were taken back to the temple.