Bulls, Fireballs and Lemons Trivia Quiz

Answer: Greece

Rouketopolemos (rocket war) is a unique and striking custom that takes place during Easter, on the night of the Resurrection, in Vrontados, on the island of Chios, Greece. During this custom, the parishes of two churches, Agios Markos and Panagia Ereithiani, "fight" each other with improvised rockets fired from one side to the other, creating a spectacular spectacle in the sky.

The tradition of the rocket war is said to have begun during the island's Turkish occupation. It symbolizes a cannon firing, a sign announcing and celebrating the meaning of Easter, the Resurrection.

Today, the custom remains alive, with hundreds of rockets lighting up the sky of Vrontados, attracting visitors from Greece and abroad. Despite the obvious safety challenges, the rocket war continues to be an integral part of the island's Easter tradition.

Answer: Spain

The "Running of the Bulls" (Encierro from the verb "encerrar", to enclose, lock up) is a famous Spanish event that takes place from the 7th to the 14th of July in Pamplona during the San Fermín festival. During this event, participants run through a designated path in the city streets alongside a group of charging bulls, aiming to reach the bullring without being stampeded on or injured. The run covers approximately 875 meters (about half a mile).

This tradition dates back several centuries, originating from the practical need to herd bulls from the countryside to the bullring. During that process, young men began to run in front of the bulls to boast their bravery.

Today, the Running of the Bulls attracts thousands of participants and spectators from around the world, though it remains a controversial event due to safety concerns and animal rights issues.

Answer: El Salvador

The "Bolas de Fuego" (Fireball) Festival is an intense and fiery annual celebration on August 31 in Nejapa, El Salvador. During this festival, locals gather to hurl flaming, kerosene-soaked balls at each other in a fierce street battle. Participants wear gloves, protective face paint, and heavy clothing to shield themselves from burns as they dodge and throw the fiery "bolas" back and forth.

The origins of the "Bolas de Fuego" Festival trace back to a volcanic eruption in 1658 when the nearby San Salvador volcano erupted, forcing the town's evacuation. According to the local legend, San Jeronimo fought the devil with fireballs to protect the townspeople.

Today, the event serves both as a tribute to that story and as a demonstration of community spirit and bravery.

Answer: Ivory Coast

"Popo Carnaval" is an annual cultural celebration that takes place in Bonoua, Ivory Coast. One might say it resembles Mardi Gras with the extended use of colors, decorations, dance, and music, even the use of the typical Mardi Gras colors, purple, green, and gold.

The festival started in 1946 as a modification of the annual yam festival. The young men of the town introduced the custom of getting dressed as women, wearing masks, and parading in the streets.

In the local Aboure language "popo" means mask.

Answer: France

The "Fête du Citron" (Lemon Festival) is a unique annual celebration held in Menton, France, along the French Riviera, typically in February. This colorful festival pays tribute to Menton's famous lemon and citrus production, which thrives in the area's mild Mediterranean climate.

During the festival, the town transforms with vibrant parades and stunning displays made entirely of lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits. These large, intricate sculptures follow a different theme each year. The festival also includes nighttime parades, music, dancing, and fireworks, attracting visitors from around the world.

The Fête du Citron is a joyful blend of art and tradition and celebrates Menton's citrus heritage in colorful creativity.

Answer: Japan

The "Hokkai Heso Matsuri" Festival is a unique and vibrant summer festival celebrated annually in Furano, Hokkaido, Japan. The term "heso" translates to "belly button" in Japanese, which is why this festival is affectionately referred to as the "Belly Button Festival."

The celebration began in 1969 in Furano, which is geographically considered the center of Hokkaido, or its "belly button." The festival aims to unite the people of this agricultural region. Participants paint their torsos with bold and vibrant colors, featuring characters inspired by Japanese folk art, animals, and even personas from anime. In these artistic displays, the belly button is creatively transformed into the nose, mouth, or face of the depicted characters, resulting in amusing and lively images.

The parades of painted participants are complemented by food stalls, children's game booths, and various dancing and singing performances, making the festival a joyous occasion for everyone involved.

Answer: USA

The "Burning Man" is an iconic week-long festival held annually in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, attracting participants from around the world. It started as a bohemian self-expression festival, an artistic event that has become mainstream over the years and a favorite playground for social media influencers.

The desert is decorated with large sculptures and installations, performances and concerts take place and people seek spiritual and interactive experiences.

The festival culminates with the burning of a massive wooden man, symbolizing ephemerality and renewal.

Answer: England

Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake, as is the whole name, is a peculiar and bold annual event held on Cooper's Hill near Gloucester, England. The event features participants chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down the steep, uneven hill, which has a gradient of around 45 degrees. The cheese, weighing about nine pounds, is rolled from the top, and competitors race down after it, often tumbling and falling due to the hill's challenging slope. The first person to reach the bottom or cross the finish line wins the cheese. There are separate races for men, women, and children.

Though it seems lighthearted, the race is known for its physical intensity and risk, with many participants sustaining bumps and bruises (or worse) as they roll down the hill.

This centuries-old tradition has grown in popularity, drawing spectators from around the world - who are often the winners - in this high-spirited and eccentric British festival.

Answer: New Zealand

The "Jaffa Race Festival" is a quirky annual event held in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is centered around a unique race involving giant Jaffas - round chocolate candies with a hard shell. The race is set on the city's Baldwin Street, famous for being one of the steepest residential streets in the world.

The jaffas are donated by the Cadbury Company and the proceeds from their sale go to local charities. Each jaffa takes a number and on the day of the race, the jaffas are released from the top of the street. They roll and bounce down the slope and the first jaffas that reach the bottom of the street win prizes, and one is declared "king of the Jaffa Race."

The "Jaffa Race" began in the early 2000s as part of Dunedin's annual Cadbury Chocolate Carnival, which celebrated the city's connection to the Cadbury chocolate factory located there. The factory has since closed, but the Jaffa Race remains a signature component of the city's identity.

Answer: Italy

The "Battle of the Oranges" (Battaglia delle Arance) is a lively and historical festival held in Ivrea, Piedmont, Italy, during the town's annual carnival in late February. This event commemorates a medieval revolt against a tyrannical ruler and symbolizes the fight for freedom. At the center of the legend is a beautiful miller's daughter, Violetta, who refused a local baron's "droit de seigneur," the right to sleep with her on her wedding night.

During the festival, participants act out this rebellion by throwing oranges at each other in a fun, playful "battle." The battle lasts three days, and carriages carrying "noble" figures roll through the town, becoming targets for the orange-throwing "rebels." Thousands of oranges fill the air, creating a bright orange scene on the streets.

The Battle of the Oranges combines history, community spirit, and a bit of chaos, making it one of Italy's most colorful and exhilarating festivals.