Spring!

Flowers

100

Spring is the season of flowers. The Japanese celebrate the arrival of spring by hosting mass viewings of which flower. a) Peach blossoms b) Tulips c) Sunflowers d) Carnations e) Cherry blossoms

What is Cherry Blossoms?

200

In the Victorian-era language of flowers, a red rose means true love, a white rose innocence or purity. What does a blue rose mean? A) Icy disregard B) Mystery C) Nothing — there is no blue rose D) Naughtiness

What is mystery? Blue roses do not occur in nature, but are made by dyeing white roses. Genetic engineers have made lilac or mauve roses, but the true blue color has not yet been achieved. Still, blue roses are popular in textiles and china designs.

300

There is one pretty purple flower that does not belong in your salad; it’s very poisonous. Which flower is it? A) Lavender B) Lilac C) Violet D) Wisteria

What is wisteria? What could be prettier than a salad sprinkled with a few fresh blossoms? Many flowers are edible, but be careful. Just two wisteria seeds are enough to make a child seriously ill. All parts of the plant are toxic, but not fatally so.

400

The song, “In an English Country Garden” celebrates the abundance of flowers to be found in those gardens. Among others, the song names roses, foxgloves, snowdrops and: A) Forget-me-nots B) Honesty C) Periwinkles D) Sweet William

What is forget-me-nots? The song goes on to list some of the numerous insects, such as fireflies, moths, gnats and bees, and songbirds, such as bobolink, cuckoo and quail, that are also found in an English country garden.

500

One lovely North American wildflower goes by the common names of jewelweed and touch-me-not. It is called jewelweed because its blossoms look like hanging jewels, but why is it called touch-me-not? A) It dies if touched B) It causes an itchy rash C) It leaves an almost indelible stain D) Its seed pods explode on contact

What is its seed pods explode on contact? The seed pods explode with a satisfying pop, sending seeds flying. The sap of the plant is said to be good for skin irritations, easing the itch of poison ivy and the pain of stinging nettles.

Easter

100

How long can Easter eggs be kept in the refrigerator?

What is up to a week?

200

What does an egg symbolize?

Rebirth

300

How many chocolate bunnies are made each Easter?

90 million

400

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

"Ostara" The word Easter comes from Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love and fertility, also known as Astarte. Astarte became the Anglo-Saxon Ostara, goddess of fertility, spring and dawn. Easter was a pagan springtime celebration before it became a Christian holy day, and many non-religious elements form our celebrations.

500

Lent, the period that precedes Easter, begins on what day?

Ash Wednesday Lent, a period of fasting and atonement, begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter. At masses on this day, priests mark the foreheads of worshippers with ashes in the shape of a cross. Shrove Tuesday is the day immediately preceding the Lenten period; Palm Sunday, which celebrates Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem, is the Sunday before Easter.

More Easter

100

The Easter Rabbit was first introduced to North America following... a) The American Revolution b) the Civil War c) the Boston Tea Party

The Civil War Not until the Civil War was the message and meaning of Easter expressed as it had been in Europe. Presbyterians found the story of the resurrection of Christ a source of renewed hope following the death and destruction of the war.

200

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

C The rabbit first appeared as a symbol of Easter in 16th century Germany. And the first edible Easter bunnies were also produced in Germany, during the early 1800s. German settlers later brought the custom to North America. Originally, the hare was a pagan symbol of fertility and companion of the goddess Ostara.

300

Where did Easter Island get its name? a) The island's shape was said to resemble an Easter bunny b) The name of the island in the native language sounded like the word "Easter" c) Europeans first landed on the island on Easter Day

C The first confirmed European landing on Easter Island (Rapanui) was on Easter Day, 1722, by the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen.

400

Where does the custom of Easter baskets originate? a) From the baskets farmers would use to collect their crops b) From the ancient Greek myth of Cornucopia, the horn of plenty c) From the Catholic custom of bringing Easter dinner food to mass to be blessed

C Easter baskets arose from the Catholic custom of bringing Easter dinner food to mass to be blessed. This custom may also be related to ancient agrarian customs of bringing first crops to the temple.

500

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

Canada The world's largest Easter egg, or pysanka, is located in Vegreville, Alta., Canada. The egg measures 9.4 metres high, 7 metres long and 5.5 metres wide—and weighs 2,270 kilograms. The complex design, built of aluminum, sits on its base at a 30-degree angle. The egg was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1974 and to celebrate Vegreville's ethnic heritage—a large percentage of the town’s population is of Ukrainian Canadian descent.

Random

100

Which imagery is most associated with the spring season? a) Blazing sun b) Snow c) Foliage d) Blossoms e) None of these

Blossoms

200

The first day of spring is technically called ________. a) Spring solstice b) Spring equinox c) Either A or B

Spring Equinox

300

Spring months vary according to climate and geographic location. In North America , spring season starts in which calendar month. a) January b) March c) May d) July e) September

March

400

According to folk legends, certain groundhogs can predict whether or not spring will arrive early in that year. How do they make their predictions? a) Look for their shadows b) Judge the thickness of the snow c) Find a mate

Look for their shadows

500

The term "equinox" is defined as ________. a) When the sun is furthest from the equator b) When day and night are equal in length c) When Earth's two poles meet

When day and night are equal length.

Interesting Facts

100

True or False: Baby birds are born knowing how to sing.

Baby birds learn to sing during spring. Although they are born with the ability to sing, they must learn the specific songs of their species. They often learn their songs within two months of being born.

200

True or false: Daylight savings starts at the same time all over the world.

False

300

Who first proposed daylight savings time?

Benjamin Franklin was the first to propose daylight savings time in 1784. It wasn't fully implemented until the end of the Second World War.

400

True or false: "Spring Fever" is a real thing.

True Spring fever is not just a myth – the body may experience physiological changes due to changes in diet, hormone production and temperature.

500

Which playful bird is often seen as symbolizing the arrival of the spring season? a) Cuckoo b) Jaybird c) Robin d) Swallow e) Sparrow

Swallow