Clubs and Organizations
A Trip to the Greek Mainland
Potpourri
The Year Was 1952
May, May
100

This is what AARP stands for.

What is American Association of Retired Persons? Its mission is to empower retired people to choose how they live.

100

This is Greece’s capital.

What is Athens? It’s Europe’s oldest capital—around 3,400 years old.

100

Jelly is made primarily with this part of the fruit.

What is the juice or liquid? Jam is made with larger chunks of fruit. Jelly is made with pectin to solidify it, but jam does not use pectin.

100

This woman became the queen of England.

Who is Queen Elizabeth II? She became queen in 1952 and was crowned in 1953 at her coronation.

100

This is the name of a children’s game where kids ask permission from a parental figure.

What is Mother, May I? The game is intended to teach manners and self-restraint.

200

Many of us belonged to these boys’ and girls’ clubs as children, where we earned badges for learning new skills.

What are Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts? Today, boys and girls can join the Boy Scouts, but the Girl Scouts limits its membership to girls only.

200

Tourists visit this famous ruin atop the Acropolis.

What is the Parthenon? It was once a church, a mosque, a munitions depot, and an army barracks.

200

This is the term for a baby giraffe.

What is calf? Giraffes give birth while standing up, and their calves fall to the ground. Within minutes of their birth, the calves stand up and walk.

200

Women were rarely seen in public without this undergarment, something almost no one wears today.

What is girdle? The garment dates to the 16th century and has taken several forms over the century. The last stop before the 1950s abbreviated version was the corset. By the late 1960s, girdles were all but extinct.

200

This May holiday is considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the U.S.

What is Memorial Day? It falls on the last Monday of May.

300

This international organization is best known for providing blood to those in need from the donations it receives.

What is the Red Cross? Its services go well beyond blood collection and distribution. Its staff and volunteers help in disaster situations worldwide through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent.

300

Day trips are available to visit the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, which housed this oracle.

What is the Oracle of Delphi (del-FI)? The Oracle of Delphi entered a trance and channeled the god Apollo. Gaia (guy-UH) is presumed to have been the first oracle. When a prophet died, she was replaced by a new one.

300

The first modern trains were powered by this.

What is steam? The first steam train lost a race to a horse. When steam trains were introduced, they required horses to draw the train over rough terrain.

300

This Spanish-speaking island nation in the West Indies officially became a commonwealth of the United States.

What is Puerto Rico? Before its new status, which granted the island autonomous rule, Puerto Rico was a colonial territory of the United States.

300

Around one-quarter of all flower and plant sales are made in conjunction with this May holiday.

What is Mother’s Day? Lilies, orchids, and tulips are some of the most popular flowers.

400

This nonprofit organization helps families in need worldwide by building houses for them with the help of volunteers. The families also help with the construction of their homes.

What is Habitat for Humanity? The organization has built homes in 70 countries for 39 million families.

400

The first known Olympics were held in 776 BC at this site on the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece.

What is Olympia? People also used to go there to worship the gods.

400

This part of the rose is used in perfume.

What is oil? You can extract the essence from rose blooms and make the essential oil at home. It takes a week to complete the process.

400

She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Who is Vivien Leigh? Marlon Brando also stars in the film and plays the role of Stanley, Blanche’s brother-in-law.

400

This is May’s birthstone.

What is emerald? The stone represents love and success.

500

This organization is comprised of high-IQ individuals and is limited to the upper two percent of the population.

What is Mensa? It was founded in 1946 as a nonpolitical roundtable for those who qualify.

500

 Stroll along this main port city near Athens after a dinner at one of its many seaside tavernas (small Greek restaurants).

What is Piraeus (pie-REE-us)? The 1960 film Never on Sunday is set in Piraeus.

500

German chocolate cake is named for him.

Who is Samuel German? German, an American baker, invented the cake in 1852.

500

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Charlie Allnutt in African Queen.

Who is Humphrey Bogart? Katharine Hepburn also stars in the film and plays the role of Rose Sayer.

500

This Canadian holiday falls on the next-to-last Monday in May.

What is Victoria Day? It celebrates Queen Victoria’s birthday.

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