Pigs To That Trivia Quiz

Answer: A human toilet built over a pig sty

And yes, you guessed it. The pigs get to eat everything that falls from above. Talk about manna from heaven gone wrong. These toilets were once very common in China and India, but whereas most Chinese toilets evolved from there, pig toilets were still reasonably common in the rural areas of India as late as 2013, particularly in the state of Goa. Pig toilets, as you may imagine, pose a significant threat to the health of the human populace. One imagines they are hardly conducive to the good health of the poor pigs either.

Answer: Influenza

Well, they certainly have the nose for sneezing, that's a fact. A pig is prone to falling victim to influenza, pneumonia and bronchitis because its lungs are quite small and weak relative to the rest of its body. They are particularly vulnerable to swine influenza, and can also contact human influenza into the bargain. So if your pig looks feverish, or is lethargic, coughing, sneezing or wheezing, call a vet. And beware. Pigs can pass this illness on to humans as well.

Answer: Finland

Why is this so, you ask? Because ham is one of the favourite dishes at Christmas mealtime celebrations in Finland, and if, say, you were waiting to go into the dentist, you would be experiencing all the feelings of a pig knowing that Christmas was fast approaching.

This country also has another unusual expression relating to pigs. "To behave like a pig in a raspberry orchard" refers to the behaviour of people who are gluttons or who behave very badly in one form or another.

Answer: Had roast beef

I bet you just recited that nursery rhyme to yourself. The first full quotation of this rhyme has been found recorded in a book titled "The Famous Tommy Thumb's Little Story-Book" which was published in England early in the 1760s. It was, no doubt, around much longer than that for it to gain enough popularity to be included in this work.

Answer: Demeter

Demeter was the goddess of the harvest, grains and rich fertile earth. She is also associated with a happy marriage, moral and ethical codes, and life expectancy. So, in order to ensure a long, happy, healthy life, and a fruitful harvest, it was wise to seek her intercession now and then, and offer up a sacrifice to her of her favourite animal, a poor old pig. Ceres was the Roman equivalent of Demeter, Persephone was Demeter's daughter, and Pandora was considered by ancient Greeks to be the first-born woman.

Answer: Buddhism

Marici is the Buddhist goddess of heavens and light. She is looked upon as one of the twenty-four heavenly celestial beings. She is depicted in several different ways, all of them associated with pigs. This is either sitting in a lotus flower on the back of seven sows, or sitting on the back of a large boar, or being driven along in a carriage pulled by pigs.

Her gifts, when endowed upon a seeker, are selflessness, compassion, mastery of self, wealth and prosperity.

Answer: Mirrors

Considering the state in which some some of these poor animals are kept, it is not too hard to imagine that pigs would indeed be terrified out of their wits upon catching a glimpse of their own reflections. In actual fact however, most animals, including pigs, don't have the ability to recognize themselves in a mirror.

The few animals that can are apes, chimps, dolphins, elephants and magpies. How amazing is that?

Answer: Poker

The front teats of a sow apparently produce nicer tasting milk that the back ones, so to be at the back end of that food chain is to be in a disadvantaged position. The piglet on the last teat also faces the prospect of being bumped out of the way by another hungrier piglet who wants in for a meal. When applied to the game of poker, this saying means you're in an unfavourable position.

Answer: Germany

Pigs are considered to be particularly lucky on New Year's Eve in this country. To ensure a prosperous and happy year ahead, it is customary there to give each other a gift of a marzipan pig. Marzipan is a thick confection made out of sugar and ground up sweet almonds.

It is generally used as an iced covering on cakes for important occasions, such as wedding celebrations. Because of its composition, it can be used to create various different confectionery shapes as well.

Answer: John Fiedler

John Fiedler was an American voice and character actor who lived from 1925 until 2005. His was the voice who gave us Piglet for more than thirty-five years. Walt Disney's interpretation of Piglet was that of an honourable sort of piggy, inclined to be somewhat nervous at times, but having a stout and brave heart underneath it all. Disney's Piglet also loved beautiful flowers and elegant objects, and more than anything, was a very neat and tidy little pig. So there you have it.

The defence rests. Pigs aren't so very bad after all.