Hocus Pocus, Alakazam! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Abracadabra

Like many magic words, the true origins of the word "abracadabra" are shrouded in mystery. It may have invoked the god Abraxas for protection. It might be a synthesis of the Hebrew words for "father," "son," and "holy spirit." It could also be from the Aramaic phrase "avra kehdabra," meaning, "I will create as I speak."

In ancient times the word was inscribed on pendants worn around the neck as protection from evil and illness. It was considered a far more powerful word in the classical age than it is now!

Answer: Hocus Pocus

"Hoc est corpus meum" is the original Latin chant, meaning, "this is my body." Spoken during the consecration, it is the most sacred moment of the Catholic Mass. It became "hocus pocus" as it moved from holy usage into alchemy and magic.

Answer: Open Sesame

"Open sesame" comes to us from a translation of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." It was the incantation used by Ali Baba to open his hidden cave of treasure.

Answer: Bibbidi-bobbidy-boo

Alliterative, nonsensical and extremely silly, "Bibbidi-bobbidy-boo" was not only a catchy magic word but also a very popular song upon its release in 1949. A recording of the song by Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters made it to #14 on the Billboard charts.

Answer: Om mani padme hum

"Om mani padme hum" is a Buddhist mantra. It has been translated phonetically from region to region, so the spellings may vary, but the tone and shape of the phrase remain essentially the same. Some meditate upon the overall meaning of the phrase, while others use the six syllables as symbols for individual tenets of the faith.

Like many exotic-sounding phrases, it has been imported into stage magic without all of the symbolism.

Answer: Rosabelle believe.

"Rosabelle" was a song that Bess used in her original act at Coney Island.

Harry Houdini spent much of his later life trying to disprove spiritualism and expose phony mediums. The agreement with his wife was his ultimate means of proving that a return from the dead was impossible. The séances were supposed to continue each year for the rest of her life.

In 1929 a medium reported that the special phrase had been uttered during a séance, but Bess claimed that the news was false - she had been ill during the séance and the secrecy of the phrase could have been compromised.

Bess held annual séances for 10 years, and then gave up on waiting and passed responsibility on to magician William B. Gibson.

Answer: Peanut butter sandwiches

In his very first "Sesame Street" appearance, the Amazing Mumford simply said "A la peanut butter" as his magic incantation. After that it became "A la peanut butter sandwiches," a phrase that has stuck with him for the rest of his sketches.

Answer: Sim sala bim

"Sim sala bim" may be based on the lyrics of a Danish nursery rhyme, or it could be taken from an Arabic phrase meaning "the lion is king of the desert." Like many magical mantras, its sources are shrouded in mystery. Dante the Magician, nee Harry August Jansen, used it as his catchphrase and the title of his Broadway revue.

Answer: Klaatu barada nikto.

"Klaatu barada nikto" has since become an in-joke throughout computer geek culture. It was referenced in films including "Tron" and "Star Wars," and even appeared as an Easter egg in the code for the Firefox web browser.

("Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam" is Klingon for "today is a good day to die." "A Khasane in Shtetl" is Yiddish for "a wedding in the village.")

Answer: Presto

"Presto" is frequently used as one part of a rhyming pair of words, such as "presto change-o." It is also a part of the word "prestidigitation," another word for stage magic.

Answer: Summoning the flying monkeys.

In the novel, the flying monkeys are summoned when someone puts on a magical hat and speaks the phrase. The individual who the summoning also had to alternate between standing on the left foot or the right foot while the chant was spoken. Much like Aladdin's lamp, the monkeys could only be summoned three times by one person.

Answer: False

While "alakazam," along with many other magic words, has a definite Arabian sound to it, it cannot be traced back directly to any specific words. It may come from the Arabic word for "oath," or the Hindu word for "perfect," or it may simply be mumbo jumbo that sounded flashy and foreign.

Answer: Jambi the Genie from "Pee-wee's Playhouse"

Jambi would use the phrase to grant Pee-wee Herman's wishes. Jambi was a green, disembodied head wearing a turban.

Answer: Shazam

The young boy Billy Batson spoke the word "Shazam" to turn into the fully-grown superhero Captain Marvel. It was an acronym that summoned the powers of Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury. It was also the name of the wizard character that gave Billy the power to transform.

Answer: Please

"Please" is an incredibly powerful magic word! It instantly creates a social contract between the person who utters it and the person who hears it, transferring power from the speaker to the listener. It adds a condition that mitigates what might otherwise be an excessive command: "Give me X, but only if it pleases you."