Cinco de Mayo
Mother’s Day
Armed Forces Day
Shavuot
Memorial Day
100

What does Cinco de Mayo mean?

The fifth of May, in Spanish.

100

What date is Mother’s Day typically held?

The second Sunday in May

100

Armed Forces Day honors the 5 military branches. What are they?

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard

100

The Shavuot holiday commemorates the Giving of the Law, otherwise known as what Jewish religious text?

The Torah

100

Memorial Day unofficially marks the beginning of what?

Summer

200

What traditional music is popular on Cinco de Mayo?

Mariachi Music

200

What is the traditional flower given on Mother’s Day?

Red Carnations

200

Which US President established Armed Forces Day in 1959?

President Harry Truman, 33rd US President

200

In Israel, Shavuot is the holiday of what natural element?

Water

200

Memorial Day was originally held on May 30th, but in 1971 it was changed to be held every year on the last Monday in May. Why?

The date of the 30th could end up on any day of the week, so in 1971 Congress signed it into law that Memorial Day be held the last Monday in May to allow Americans a 3-day weekend to honor their fallen loved ones.

300

What US city holds the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration?

Los Angeles, California

300

Why is it that in almost every language, the word for mother starts with ”m”?

“Ma” is one of the first sounds a baby can vocalize

300

Which president earned the Medal of Honor, the highest honor in the military?

President Theodore Roosevelt

300

During Shavuot, people stay up all night to do what?

Read the Torah, the sacred texts, as a community

300

What flower is used to commemorate fallen soldiers?

Red Poppy

400

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. In truth, it started as a celebration of the Mexican Army’s victory over another country in the Battle of Puebla. Who were they at war with?

France

400

What age group do most women belong to when they have their first child?

20s. Average age is 26.8

400

The Armed Forces Day Parade replaced what other parade when it debuted on May 20th, 1950?

The Army Day Parade

400

Shavuot is the only Jewish Holiday where what kind of food is encouraged?

Dairy

400

Memorial Day was originally known as what holiday?

Decoration Day

500

Cinco de Mayo shares an anniversary with two historical events in the United States. Name one of them. (Hint: A First in Space and a concert area for Piano Music)

1961 - First US Manned Space Flight

1891 - Opening of Carnegie Hall

500

In the late 1860s, peacemaker Ann Jarvis established a committee that created the first version of an American Mother’s Day. What was this holiday called?

Mother’s Friendship Day

500

Though established in 1950, Armed Forces Day wasn’t made a federal holiday until 1961, by which US President?

President John F. Kennedy

500

Shavuot falls seven weeks after what other Jewish Holiday?

Passover

500

Originally, Memorial Day honored only those lost in what war?

The Civil War