April Trivia

 

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April - month of showers, in some areas of the world at least.

It's also the month of Easter, eggs, taxes...

What do you know of the customs and festivals of April?"

Test your trivia knowledge and find out!

 

(Answers appear when you hover over the Easter Basket

at the end of each question... but NO FAIR PEEKING!

Answers are also given at the end of the questions,

in the event some tricky rabbit stole them!)

 

The chocolate eggs will be in the shops before we know it, but is that really all Easter is about?

1. Easter is always in April. True or False?

1. False – Easter is a moveable feast.  It can be as early as March 22.  The latest date it can be is April 25.  Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21.

 

2. What is the true meaning of Easter?

A)    Every year the Easter bunny would give eggs to good kids

B)    The Easter bunny got shot by a hunter

C)    The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ

D)    The celebration of the Passover

2. C) The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ - You could find out more about this in the Bible. (Matthew chapter 27)

 

3. What are the 40 days before Easter known as?

A)    Spring Equinox

B)    Groundhog month

C)    Spring fever

D)    Lent

3. D) Lent - Lent lasts for forty days before Easter, excluding Sundays, as they are considered to be 'festival' days.  It begins on Ash Wednesday, the day after Shrove Tuesday.  In the Catholic Church it ends on Maundy Thursday, whereas in the Anglican Church it ends on Easter Eve.  Lent is a season of restricting the diet, as opposed to strict fasting.  Nowadays people give up certain foods that they enjoy; in the past they would have given up meat, eggs, butter, fish and oil, amongst other things.  Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray before beginning his ministry.

 

4. The word “Lent” means:

A)     To live without

B)      To let go

C)      Lengthening of days

D)     To live again

4. C) Lengthening days

 

5. What does Palm Sunday celebrate?

A)    A traditional Roman festival when dates were eaten

B)    A traditional Jewish festival when people laid fresh palms in their homes on their floors

C)    Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt

D)    Jesus riding into Bethlehem on a donkey

5. C) Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt - Palm Sunday (also known as Passion Sunday) is the Sunday before Easter and is the starting-point of the passion story.  In the Revised English Bible, Mark 11 v7, it says that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt: 'So they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had spread their cloaks on it he mounted it.'

 

6. For how many pieces of silver did Judas Iscariot betray Jesus?

A)     30

B)      20

C)      25

D)     100

6. A) 30 - In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 26 verse 15 it describes how Judas went to the Chief Priests and they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him.  Judas later realized what he had done and no longer wanted the money, so it was used to buy the Potter's Field (also known as the Blood Acre) where foreigners were buried.  The thirty pieces of silver as the price on Jesus' head had been prophesied by Jeremiah.

 

7. What does Gethsemane mean?

A)     Place of the Skull

B)      Press of oils

C)      Beautiful garden

D)     Olive grove

7. B) Press of oils - The Garden of Gethsemane is on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, and so was planted with many olive trees (It is believed that some of those trees still produce olives today.) and had lots of olive presses as well.  Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane after singing the Passover hymns, to pray.  It was in this garden that they came to arrest him, following Judas' betrayal. 

 

8. Whom did Pilate release instead of Jesus?

A)     Saul of Tarsus

B)      Judas

C)      Paul

D)     Barabbas

8. D) Barabbas - Every Passover the Roman Government would release the criminal that the people chose. Jesus wasn't a criminal, but people thought of Him as one. The people chose Barabbas to release.

 

9. What color was the cloak that Jesus wore when he went to the cross?

A)     Purple

B)      White

C)      Green

D)     Black

9. A) Purple - In John 19 v2 and v5 it describes the cloak as purple; the soldiers put the cloak on Jesus after he had been flogged, along with a crown of thorns.  Purple was an expensive colour dye to produce, and so was only worn by those rich enough to afford it.  It is significant that Jesus was dressed in this royal colour at this time.  The Romans chose this colour robe because they said he claimed to be king.  This could also be a reason for the soldiers drawing lots for Jesus' clothes after his death.  In church now, purple is the colour of Advent and Lent, as Christians prepare for their King.

 

10. Who helped Jesus carry his cross?

A)    Simon of Cyrene

B)    Simon the Zealot

C)    Joseph of Arimathea

D)    Saul of Tarsus

10. A) Simon of Cyrene - Simon of Cyrene is named as the father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15 v21), although it is not known who Alexander and Rufus were.  As Jesus had undergone so much suffering, he was in no fit state to carry his own cross, so the soldiers pressed Simon of Cyrene into service.  This may have been common practice, as a huge cross would have been very weighty for even the strongest man. 

 

11. Calvary is one name of the hill on which Jesus was crucified.  True or False

11. True - Calvary (or Golgotha) was the hill that Jesus and two criminals were crucified on. It was called Calvary in one gospel, whereas it was called Golgotha in another.

 

12. What does Golgotha mean?

A)     Crucifixion Hill

B)      Place of the Skeleton

C)      Death Mound

D)     Place of the Skull

12. D) Place of the Skull - It was called this because of all the people who died there.

 

13. Which criminal accepted Jesus before he died?

A)     The one on His left

B)      The one on His right

C)      Both

D)     Neither

13. B) The one on His right - Jesus told him that on that very day would he see Him in Heaven.

 

14. What was written above Jesus' head on the cross?

A)     King of Kings

B)      King of the Jews

C)      King of the World

D)     Son of God

14. B) King of the Jews - Pilate told them to put this above His head because he truly was the King of the Jews. Part of this inscription was found.

 

15. What language was the message on the cross written in?

A)     Latin

B)      Hebrew

C)      Greek

D)     All of these

15. D) All of these - Pilate wanted everyone to be able to read it.

 

16. In whose tomb was Jesus buried?

A)     Joseph’s (Jesus’ earthly father)

B)      Pilate’s

C)      His own tomb

D)     Joseph of Arimathea

16. D) Joseph of Arimathea, who also wrapped him in cloth and prepared Him for burial.

 

17. Who rolled away the stone from the mouth of the grave in which Jesus had been placed?

A)     The gardener

B)      Joseph of Arimathea

C)      A soldier

D)     An angel

17. D) An angel - Matthew 28 v2 says, "Suddenly there was a violent earthquake; an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone, and sat down on it."  The importance of Easter exceeds that of Christmas in the minds of Christians, because of the significance of the resurrection.

 

18. How many people saw Jesus after He rose again?

A)    12 (His Apostles)

B)     24

C)    150

D)    500

18. D) 500 - He appeared many times after He had risen.

 

19. The Easter lamb represents:

A)     The blood that the Hebrews had to put on their doors so the angel of death would pass over them

B)      Jesus, who is called the “Lamb of God” in the Bible

C)      Superstition said a lamb is good luck

D)     All of the above

19. E) All of the above

 

20. The Easter lily symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus because:

A)     It blooms in the spring

B)      It emerges from a shell buried in the earth

C)      It’s white and pure

D)     All of the above

20. B) It emerges from a shell buried in the earth - The shell represents the tomb of Jesus, and the flower that blooms represents life after death.

 

21. On which day is it traditional to make pancakes?

A)     Ash Wednesday

B)      Good Friday

C)      Maundy Thursday

D)     Shrove Tuesday

21. D) Shrove Tuesday – Pancakes were made to use up the last of the eggs and butter before the Lenten fast.  People would feast on meat and other rich foods, hence the name Mardi Gras – or Fat Tuesday – in French.  The absence of eggs from the fasting diet could also have some part in the association of eggs with Easter.

 

22. If you do this to an egg, it is said to protect you against lightning, hail and beehives. 

A)     Bury it in your garden or yard

B)      Set it on your doorstep

C)      Hang it in a sock or stocking from the nearest bush or tree

D)     Throw it as far as you can in the air (outside, of course) and leave it where it drops

22. A) Bury it in your garden or yard

 

23. How long will a boiled egg keep in the refrigerator?

A)     24 hours

B)      3 days

C)      1 week

D)     They don’t need refrigeration once cooked

23. C) 1 week – always keep them in the fridge!

 

24. Marshmallow candy that looks like baby chickens are called:

A)     Peeps

B)      Mallo-chix

C)      Gummy Chicks

D)     Chix

24. A) Peeps

 

25. Purple is a common color for Easter.  In the ancient world, the purple dye came from where?

A)     Violets

B)      Grapes

C)      Shellfish

D)     Crushed amethysts

25. C) Shellfish (crushed) from the Mediterranean Sea

 

26. In which country did April Fools' Day originate?

A)     England

B)      Italy

C)      Germany

D)     France

26. D) France

 

27. In the country it originated in you don't say 'April Fool' you say April ___'?

A)     Donkey

B)      Mule

C)      Shower

D)     Fish

27. D) Fish (this is the English translation, of course) – Poisson d’Avril in French.

 

28. April the first was at one time this day at the beginning of the year.

A)     Good Friday

B)      Easter Sunday

C)      New Year’s Day

D)     First Day of Spring

28. C) New Year’s Day

 

29. In which country are you called an 'April gowk' rather than an 'April Fool? If you're a Sassenach, you might not know this?

A)     Canada

B)      Ireland

C)      Scotland

D)     Australia

29. C) Scotland – To the Scots, a Sassenach is an English person.  A gowk is a foolish person.

 

30. April is named for a Latin word - aprilis. What does it mean?

A)     To get warmer

B)      To rain

C)      To open

D)     To bloom

30. C) To open – Some also think April is named for Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

 

31. What is the gem associated with April?

A)     Ruby

B)      Jade

C)      Diamond

D)     Sapphire

31. C) Diamond

 

32. Which of these flowers is considered the flower for April?

A)     Rose

B)      Daisy

C)      Dandelion

D)     Bluebell

32. B) Daisy – Some sources also consider the sweet pea as also being April’s flower.

 

33. This day, created to make people aware of environmental problems, was first celebrated internationally on April 22, 1970. What day is it?

                        33. Earth Day – Earth Day started as a student movement and was originally held on March 21.

 

34. The Anglo-American poet T. S. Eliot wrote 'April is the --------- month' What is the missing word?

A)     Loveliet

B)      Prettiest

C)      Wettest

D)     Cruellest

34. D) Cruellest – These are the opening words of “The Waste Land”.

 

35. Which of the following disasters occurred in April?

A)     The sinking of the Titanic

B)      The eruption of Mount Vesuvius

C)      The Black Death (plague) began in Europe

D)     The Johnstown Flood

35. A) The sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912.

 

36. Which event in U.S. history happened in April, 1865?

A)     The first three amendments to the Constitution are added

B)      The Metropolitan Museum of Art is founded in New York

C)      Webster's Dictionary is first published

D)     General Lee surrenders to General Grant, thus ending the Civil War

36. D) General Lee surrenders to General Grant, thus ending the Civil War

 

37. In April, 1877, what event made White House history?

A)     Third floor added

B)      First Easter Egg Hunt on the White House lawn

C)      Oval Office made into the president's private office

D)     Secret Service protection added for the first time

37. B) First Easter Egg Hunt on the White House lawn

 

38. In the U.S., what happens in April more than in any other month?

A)     Births of female infants

B)      Hijackings

C)      Marriages

D)     Tornadoes

38. D) Tornadoes

 

39. World Health Day is April 7.  According to the Nutrition Pyramid, which food group should be eaten sparingly?

A)     Fruits

B)      Bread, cereal, pasta

C)      Fats, oils, sweets

D)     Vegetables

39. C) Fats, oils, sweets

 

40. April is California Earthquake Preparedness Month.  How are earthquakes measured?

A)     By amount of damage

B)      Very carefully

C)      In degrees

D)     On the Richter scale

40. E) On the Richter scale

 

41. Hans Christian Anderson was born April 1, 1805.  Which of the following did he NOT write?

A)     The Ugly Duckling

B)      The Emperor’s New Suit

C)      The Real Princess

D)     The Brementown Musicians

41. D) The Brementown Musicians

 

42. April is Math Education Month.  Which of the following does NOT describe pi?

A)     A Greek letter

B)      An irrational number

C)      3.14

D)     A dessert with apples in it

42. D) A dessert with apples in it

 

43. On April 2, 1902, people could pay a dime and go under a tent in Los Angeles to see what for the first time?

A)     The first automobile

B)      A moving picture

C)      A sideshow at the carnival

D)     None of the above

43. B) A moving picture

 

44. On April 3, 1860, the first Pony Express riders left from Saint Joseph, Missouri, for San Francisco. How long did it take a letter to get to the West Coast?

A)     Three days

B)      Seven and a half days

C)      2 weeks

D)     1 month

44. B) Seven and a half days

 

45. The week of April 18-24 is National Sky Awareness Week. Since 1991, more than 40 states have issued proclamations in support of this growing celebration.  Which of the following is the official theme of National Sky Awareness Week 1999?

A)      The Sky: Where Meteorology and Astronomy Meet

B)      The Sky: If It Were Green, You Wouldn't Know When to Stop Mowing

C)      The Sky: A Window to Heaven

D)      The Sky: Kissing the Ground for 10 Million Years

45. A) The Sky: Where Meteorology and Astronomy Meet - This year recognizes the 9th annual celebration of National Sky Awareness Week. Organizers encourage everyone to look up at the many "things" in the sky such as birds, airplanes, and hot-air balloons.

 

46. In June of 1995, a bizarre annual contest was held in England.  One contestant played "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" to achieve what goal?

A)     To prove that an entire song could be played on a recorder through one's nose with one breath of air

B)      To draw worms out of the ground

C)      To satisfy the "talent" requirement for an all-drag Paul Newman look-alike contest

D)     To accompany his partner's attempt to gather stormclouds with his raindance

B) To draw worms out of the ground - The contestant was competing in the 16th Annual World Worm-Charming Championship in England. Typically in this contest, garden forks or other tools are vibrated in the soil by competitors to coax up the worms. The world record is 511 worms in 30 minutes.

 

47. He fought the law and the law won… In March of 1992, the U.S. Tax Court ruled in favor of the Internal Revenue Service that Irwin Schiff would have to pay $92,000 in back taxes and penalties. Irwin Schiff is famous for authoring what book?

A)     "I'm OK, You're Getting Audited by the IRS"

B)      "How Anyone Can Stop Paying Income Taxes"\

C)      "Everything You've Always Wanted to Know about the IRS But Were Afraid to Ask"

D)     "Taxes Shmaxes"

47. B) "How Anyone Can Stop Paying Income Taxes" – Schiff’s failed theory was that the IRS lacked the authority to tax anyone who did not file a return.  Prior to losing his case, he had not paid taxes since 1973.

 

48. God Bless America!  In October of 1995, the estate of Stanley S. Newberg donated $5.6 million to the U.S. Department of Justice as thanks for accepting his family as immigrants from Austria in 1906.  Based on the Federal budget of nearly 5 years ago, what portion of 1995's total government spending did Mr. Newberg's $5.6 million cover?

A)     2 minutes

B)      2 hours

C)      2 days