Traditions Around the World

The UK

100

In the UK, for example, it’s traditional for a couple who marry to freeze ________ and eat it a year later, on their first wedding anniversary. Doing so is supposed to bring the couple luck. 

The top tier of their wedding cake. The cake doesn’t spoil, as a traditional wedding cake is made from alcohol-soaked fruitcake, topped with marzipan and royal icing.

200

Which farm animal annually takes part in a race at the Barley Mow Inn in Bonsall, Derbyshire? Some owners now even train their _____ for the traditional race, which dates back over 100 years.

300

Every Spring, crowds gather on Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire to chase _____ down a hill. Competitors race to catch a seven to nine pound round _________, as it reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour rolling down Cooper’s Hill. The winner, appropriately, is presented with a ______ as their prize. What is it?

Cheese

400

Jarping is a game where you try crack someone's ________ without cracking your own. This is very popular in North-East England and there’s even a World Jarping Championships in Peterlee, Durham, each Easter. What is it?

Boiled eggs

500

In High Wycombe, it is tradition to literally weigh somebody on a large set of scales at the start and end of their term (job). Who is that person? 

The USA

100

Black Friday in November comes right after Thanksgiving each year, so people could buy their Christmas presents. The shopping madness lasts for three days. 

In 2010, the National Retail Federation conducted a survey, and estimated that more than 200 million shoppers went online. That's why there is a _________ Monday 

Cyber Monday 

200

On February 2 every year, this animal makes some predictions.

Folklore states that if it’s cloudy, ______ will emerge from its burrow and spring will come early. If it’s sunny, it will return to the burrow and winter will continue for six more weeks.

The groundhog 

300

Many cultures have strong historic traditions relating to dressing up around the time of Halloween and exchanging various forms of food, but few of these traditions involve children going door-to-door asking for candy with the words: "_________" 

Trick or treat!

400

Since the 1940s, US presidents have been presented with a Thanksgiving turkey at a special ceremony and, occasionally, have done THIS. 

In 1989, George Bush Senior made THIS a permanent part of the ceremony, so it’s now an annual event. What do presidents do to a turkey?

They pardon it.

The happy turkeys are returned to a farm to live out the rest of their lives – which, unfortunately, usually last less than a year, as the birds have been so overfed that they contract heart disease and other obesity-related illnesses.

And if you’re wondering whether there’s some deeper meaning or symbolic reasoning to this ritual – there isn’t.

500

2019 was the 46th year of the International _______ Pit Spitting Championship, held at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Michigan. It’s simple – eat the ______ and spit the pip as far as you can.

What fruit is that? 

A cherry

Europe

100

In which country, it is traditional to sit down for a few minutes as a family before leaving on a trip. This is meant to grant you good luck on your journey (it’s also a good opportunity to remember anything you may have forgotten).

Ukraine and Russia

200

Once a year, in the Valencian town of Buñol, Spaniards gather to throw this vegetable at each other. The world’s largest fight now attracts participants from around the world. 

La Tomatina, Spain

300

Which part of the body is that?

______-pulling is no laughing matter in the Alps. _______ wrestling was once used to settle disputes but is now a competition that is taken quite seriously by the opponents. The winner is the person who manages to pull the other contestant across the table, using only his or her _______!

A finger

400

It may be a little outdated however this World Championships are held annually in Sonkajärvi, Finland with great fanfare and the prize is dependant on the weight of THIS in beer. Contestants have to carry THIS on their shoulders over a series of obstacles in the shortest amount of time.

Their wives

500

Do you leave your teeth under the pillow for the Tooth Fairy to swap for money? In Greece, they take a different approach. There, children toss their milk teeth onto _______ when they fall out. The tradition is supposed to bring good luck to the child’s family and hail the arrival of a healthy adult tooth.

onto the roof

Asia

100

In Barsana, India, the annual Lath Maar Holi festivities see the village’s women engage in the tradition of attacking their menfolk with THIS. The men must defend themselves with shields.

dandas (enormous sticks)

200

Many cultures around the world have traditions that relate to clothing. The colour that a bride wears on her wedding day is often traditional and thought to bring good luck. In the US, they tend to dress in white. What is the color of a wedding dress in China?

red 

300

Songkran is the water festival which marks the beginning of the New Year in this country. Everyone goes to the streets on the 13 April with whatever water weapons they can use. This has to be one of the most fun ways to welcome a new year!
Which country is that?

Thailand

400

New Year in this country is celebrated with a 24 hour period of silence and meditation known as “Nyepi”. No fires may be lit, minimal talking is allowed and no travel, work or leisure activities are permitted. The only people you’ll find outside the home are the Pecalang, the traditional security men checking to see the prohibitions are being followed.

Which country is that? 

Bali

500

Whose Birthday is one of those few holidays in the South Korean year where almost everyone gets three days off (the day before, the day of, and the day after)? Celebrated on the eighth day of the lunar calendar’s fourth month, it’s May 12th in 2019 and April 30th in 2020.

The Buddah