1940's Trivia
He was the British prime minister during World War II.
Who is Winston Churchill? When he became prime minister, he wrote, “I felt... that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and for this trial.” He led Britain to victory during the war
S’mores are made with this type of cracker
What is graham? The other ingredients are toasted marshmallows and a chocolate bar
Bavaria, an area of this country, is famous for Oktoberfest.
What is Germany? Bavaria is located in southern Germany. The designers of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle were inspired by Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle
Knock on or touch this for good luck.
What is wood? This superstition has no definitive origin; however, there are two theories. One is that touching a crucifix was once the custom when taking an oath. The other explanation is that European peasants knocked loudly to guard against evil spirits
The monarch is one of the most beautiful of this type of flying insects.
What are butterflies? A butterfly tastes with its feet. Monarchs migrate up to 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) from Canada and the northern United States down to southern California and Mexico for the winter.
“Here’s looking at you, kid,” comes from this classic 1940s-era film.
What is Casablanca? The movie is set in Casablanca, Morocco, where American expats and others who were stranded in Europe during World War II fled to escape the war.
These super-thin pancakes are wrapped around sweet and savory fillings.
What are crepes? Chocolate-filled crepes are a sweet delight, and for fans of savory foods, seafood-filled crepes are popular.
Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and South Kensington are stops on the subway system in this city.
What is London? They are all stops on the Picadilly Line of the Tube, the name of the London subway system. There is a full day’s worth of tourist attractions along this line
Throwing this over your shoulder is said to bring good luck.
What is salt? Throw it over your left shoulder. Salt has long been a prized commodity; the word salary is derived from the Latin word salarium, which means “salt money.”
These mischievous critters’ bodies marginally resemble cats, and their faces resemble those of bandits.
What are raccoons? Their babies, called kits, are born blind and deaf, but grown raccoons have excellent hearing. They are notorious for raiding garbage cans and can even open containers because they have hands with fingers like those of humans.
This type of women’s swimsuit was launched in the mid-1940s.
What is bikini? Allegedly, part of the reason for the abbreviated swimsuits was fabric rationing during the war.
Blueberries pair well with this citrus in muffins.
What is lemon? Substitute blackberries in a blueberry-lemon muffin recipe for a tasty variation.
New Haven, home to Yale University, is in this state.
What is Connecticut? The state also claims to be the home of the hamburger, which was first served at Louis’ Lunch in 1900.
It’s considered bad luck to walk under this.
What is a ladder? Originally, this superstition referenced only a leaning ladder. When a ladder leans against a structure, it forms a triangle, and 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians felt walking through a triangle was an affront to their trinity of gods
This fruit shares its name with a flightless bird.
What is kiwi? The fruit was originally called the Chinese gooseberry, but later its name was changed to kiwifruit, after New Zealand’s national bird.
Completed in 1941, Mount Rushmore features these four U.S. presidents.
Who are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt?
Phyllo pastry comes from this country.
What is Greece? You can buy phyllo at the grocery store, and when you use it in savory and sweet pastries, it’s important to work quickly and keep it from drying out before baking. Brush each sheet with butter and build layer upon layer of this flaky pastry. No amateur would dare to make it from scratch!
This North American country’s flag depicts an eagle snacking on a snake
What is Mexico? The flag is divided into three stripes: From left to right, the stripes are green, white, and red. The golden eagle perched on a cactus in the center of the white stripe depicts a scene from an Aztec legend.
They say that bad luck comes in this number of occurrences.
What is three? Throughout history, the number three has been associated with the triangle and said to represent balance. From the Holy Trinity, to the Trimurti in Hinduism, to Aristotle’s three principles and beyond, the number three brings stability and comfort. So why is it associated with bad luck? Scholars don’t know the origin for sure, but they suspect it has something to do with people wanting certainty—a guaranteed number of bad things that will happen, and then the bad luck will end.
These marine animals call each other by name.
What are dolphins? Dolphins whistle to call each other by name. When they whistle, they wait for a return whistle from the dolphin they called.
These brothers topped the charts in 1944 with their hit “You Always Hurt the One You Love.”
Who are The Mills Brothers? The song was written by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher.
The earliest bakers have been traced back to this ancient civilization
What are the Egyptians? They baked simple bread over hot coals. The Romans and Greeks were the first to bake bread in enclosed ovens.
This country’s name comes from the Latin word for “silver.”
What is Argentina? The Latin word argentum means “silver.” On the periodic table of elements, silver is represented by Ag.
In Russia, this color flower is thought to bring bad luck.
What is yellow? Yellow flowers are said to bring infidelity, separation, and worse
These Arctic animals’ gold eyes turn blue in the winter
What are reindeer? Their blue eyes allow them to see better during winter, when there is little daylight.