Fables and Folklore Trivia

1. In American folk tales, what giant lumberjack was accompanied by a blue ox named Babe?

From Quiz Don't Stop the Weaving

Answer: Paul Bunyan

American folklore and tall tales usually relate to the founding of the nation and independence. Paul Bunyan is a unique figure because he actually originated in Canada. The Bunyan figure ended up moving southward around the time of independence and made its way from oral story to paper at the turn of the twentieth century. Bunyan is the ideal figure for a tall tale. Unrealistically tall and followed by a giant blue ox, Bunyan is said to have carved out the Grand Canyon and formed parts of the Cascades. Many statues of Bunyan can be found all around the western and central United States from California to Michigan and everywhere in between.

From Quiz PDAZ and the Mysterious Mandrake

Answer: It's Ancient Greek for "harmful to cattle".

Most sources list Ancient Greek as the source of the term, but the meaning is unclear. It has also been suggested that the name is derived from the name of a Greek physician or that the term "mandragora" is a corruption of Persian or Sanskrit words related to the plant. Another theory is that it is a combination of "man" and "dragon"; this theory may have some substance since "drake" is an archaic word for "dragon". As for the "harmful to cattle" allegation, all parts of the plant are toxic (although sources vary on the potency of the toxins) so grazing on it is not recommended.

From Quiz Scottish Folklore

Answer: They are human in shape but covered with silvery scales.

Scottish mermaids, unlike other mermaids, do not sing to lure sailors to their doom, but they are noted for their lovely singing.

From Quiz Banshees, Boggarts, and Kelpies

Answer: horses

Catching an aughisky would gain the person a fine mount, but if the creature came within sight or sound of the sea again, there would be trouble as the aughisky would gallop into the sea, rider and all. The each uisge, on the other hand, would take the form of a horse and offer itself to be ridden. If someone did, it would race into the water and eat the rider. Amphibious spirits that take the form of horses are generally called kelpies.

From Quiz Good Faeries

Answer: Oboe faery

From Quiz Appalachian Folklore

Answer: Indian Summer

Although this phenomenon is uncomfortable, it is actually called Indian Summer.

From Quiz Great Legends

Answer: Robert Bruce

The story holds that Bruce, hiding in a cave while on the run, watched a spider repeatedly try to climb a wall and fail - just as Bruce had repeatedly failed in his attempts to secure independence for Scotland from England. The spider tried again - and succeeded, thus inspiring Bruce to do the same. Bruce was real enough, but was the spider?

From Quiz Faerie Lore Quiz

Answer: Bean Sidhe (Banshee)

She spent all her time washing the blood-stained clothing of the dead. I'd be wailing, too.

From Quiz A Tooth on the Looth

Answer: Fear of witches

Due to superstitions about witches being able to control you upon obtaining a piece of your body (tooth, fingernail, hair), children in Medieval Europe would throw their milk teeth into a fire. Fear of witches was rife in early Europe and spread well into the Middle Ages. By 1450 it had turned into a fear-filled frenzy which lasted over 200 years and culminated in a slew of witch trials.

From Quiz What's Your Elemental IQ?

Answer: nixie

Nixies are often thought of as being shapeshifters, so one could appear as a dragon or a mermaid. There are also similar figures in England and Scandinavia. A nixie named Melusine, seen in some German coats of arms, is depicted as a mermaid

From Quiz Don't Stop the Weaving

Answer: Loch Ness

The Loch Ness Monster has been a part of Scottish folklore for centuries and while its size, shape, and species has varied from several different accounts, one thing can be said for certain: people don't know if it's real. Though much debate has been held over the years as to what 'Nessie' actually is, early storytellers considered the monster to be a variation of the Scottish Kelpie, a creature which could haunt Scottish lakes and eat children. Although 'Nessie' is a monster, many attempts have been made over the years to make the creature friendly in film. The Loch Ness Monster's existence is still highly debated.

From Quiz PDAZ and the Mysterious Mandrake

Answer: As an anesthetic for surgery

The Greek physician Dioscorides described mandrakes as being "given to those who are going to be cut or burnt (cauterized) and wish to have anesthesia". This property of mandrakes has a basis in truth. Being a member of the nightshade family, the roots contain a narcotic alkaloid. Mandrake was used to treat a wide variety of ailments including melancholy, rheumatism and convulsions. In large doses, it was alleged to cause madness and delirium, which earned it one of its nicknames, "Satan's Apple". Conversely, it was also alleged to be useful in treating demonic possession. PDAZ interprets this to mean that, if a large dose resulted in madness and delirium, the symptoms were treated with another dose...

From Quiz Animal Folklore and Myths of Britain

Answer: The Magpie

Often perceived as a bird of ill-omen, in Scotland it is said that the Magpie carries a drop of the devil's blood underneath its tongue. Many people (myself included!) still salute or tip an imaginary hat to magpies even to this day.

From Quiz Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long-Legged Beasties

Answer: Spriggans

Spriggans were malicious little creatures, well-known for their criminal behaviour. They were known to blight crops, destroy fields of corn, rob the homes of humans and kidnap human babies (leaving an ugly little Spriggan in the baby's cradle). They had the ability to puff themselves up to enormous size, and they must have been a terrifying sight. They were also footpads, waylaying travellers and robbing them. Spriggans were, however, trusted by their fellow faeryfolk to guard the faery gold buried in the hills of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

From Quiz Bad Faeries

Answer: baby

Protection can be gained by reciting an incantation or carrying Saint John's Wort or daisy chains.

From Quiz Good Faeries

Answer: The White Lady

By rinsing your eyes in the faery well, you open the eyes of your soul to see clearly into other levels of consciousness.

From Quiz Appalachian Folklore

Answer: Blackberry Winter

Blackberry Winter generally is not freezing weather. It usually just a period of cooler than usual weather.

From Quiz Great Legends

Answer: Gessler

Forced to shoot an arrow off his son's head, this expert archer took out two arrows. He told Gessler that if he had missed once, he would not have missed a second time (meaning the second arrow was intended for Gessler). It appears to be legend only; the existence of a great archer named Tell is not substantiated.

From Quiz Trinidad Folklore

Answer: one cow hoof

She is very beautiful, dressed in French Creole clothing.

From Quiz Faerie Lore Quiz

Answer: Puck

He is a character in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

From Quiz A Tooth on the Looth

Answer: Tooth fee

The tooth fee or tand-fé was an old Norse tradition mentioned in the "Eddas" in the 13th century. This was money which was paid to children on the loss of their first milk tooth. Today the Norwegian tooth fairy is known as "Tannfe". The Norwegian tradition differs from the conventional idea of leaving your tooth under your pillow, in that Norwegian children leave their tooth in a glass of water on the nightstand. This is to aid the tooth fairy to see the tooth clearly instead of rooting around under pillows.

From Quiz Don't Stop the Weaving

Answer: St. Nicholas

Krampus is a figure from tales of myth and legend in the Alps (Switzerland, Austria, Germany, etc.) known for being somewhat of a fiend and a demon. While St. Nicholas hands out presents for Christmas, the Krampus punishes naughty children...almost as though Santa only does half the job. Krampus appears in the weeks before Christmas. While the figure of Krampus predates Christianity, groups of people in some regions still include it in their traditions-- some even dress up and roam their towns annually. Krampus isn't the only one to accompany St. Nicholas though; other folk tales from this area speak about the furry Belsnickel and the seemingly-vengeful Knecht Ruprecht, a figure who either rewards good children with food or beats naughtier kids. Yikes!

From Quiz PDAZ and the Mysterious Mandrake

Answer: It's alleged to be an aphrodisiac.

The mandrake's reputation as an aphrodisiac has also resulted in it being called "Aphrodite's Plant" and "Circe's Plant". It was alleged to be used in this capacity by the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, among other cultures. Apparently, this benefit is also known to elephants; legend has it that they consume mandrakes for this purpose.

From Quiz Animal Folklore and Myths of Britain

Answer: Foxes were getting married

Strange but true. Foxes were long associated with witchcraft and trickery and in Lincolnshire it was well known that their bite was always fatal.

From Quiz Scottish Folklore

Answer: A Horse

The Kelpie looks like a noble stallion with a glossy coat. It appears to have a placid nature and can be found next to rivers and lochs. The Kelpie seems almost to invite the weary traveler to ride upon its back but if you do it will ride into the loch then drown and devour you (a common theme in Scottish folklore!).

From Quiz Banshees, Boggarts, and Kelpies

Answer: brownie

Brownies were helpful little men, hairy, naked and rough. They would help out around the house if given a regular ration of good quality food. Spying on them (er, who'd want to spy on little naked hairy dudes?), criticizing their work, and giving them inappropriate gifts (such as clothing) would drive them away.

From Quiz Bad Faeries

Answer: pixie pincher

From Quiz Good Faeries

Answer: moonlight

From Quiz Appalachian Folklore

Answer: It will snow soon.

The sound made by the fire is called "tramping". It supposedly sounds like a man crunching through the snow. Also a ring of light encircling the moon is an indication of precipitation soon. The ring is caused by moonlight refracting off of ice crystals in the cold air. If you count the stars inside the ring, that is the number of days until the precipitation arrives. This actually works!

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Last Updated Oct 26 2024 5:45 AM

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