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A-O of Mixed Superstitions Trivia Quiz

A selection of obscure and not so obscure superstitions - get out your four leaf clover and have a go.

A multiple-choice quiz by Debbie39. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
Debbie39

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
143,655

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
1637

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. According to an old English belief, if you hang the dried skin of an adder in the rafters or hearth of your house it will ensure: Hint

that your house will not burn down

that snakes will not harm your family

protection against boils

triumph over your enemies

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. A bride must inform bees of her marriage or: Hint

they will plague her family for three generations

she is sure to be stung

they will produce a poor yield of honey

the bees will leave the hive, never to return

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. Cats are often regarded with some suspicion. According to European tradition, a visit from a stray tortoiseshell cat is: Hint

a sign of misfortune

a sign of good luck

a forecaster of a wedding

a predictor of the birth of a girl-child

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. According to a British superstition, dew collected on May 1 and rubbed on the face is said to: Hint

ensure a beautiful complexion for the coming year

give you psychic powers

ensure the object of your desire will fall in love with you

make you vain

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. A Portugese superstition states that if someone with the evil eye passes you while you are with your herd of cattle you should: Hint

throw cow dung at that person

place your cap over your testicles, then pass it over the heads of your cows

drink a potion of cows blood and milk to stop your herd drying up

sacrifice the smallest calf

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. In Ireland, for a funeral procession to meet a man on a white horse is an ill omen. If this happens you should: Hint

halt the procession and all shake hands to prevent arguments

return to the starting point and begin the procession again

force the rider to turn back and join the procession for a short while

plant a hawthorn tree on the grave to repel witches

NEXT>

Question 7 of 15

7. "God bless you" is uttered: Hint

to congratulate the sneezer on their momentarily stilled heart resuming its beating

to protect the sneezer's temporarily expelled soul from Satan

for any of these reasons

to prevent the expelled evil spirits from re-entering the body

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Question 8 of 15

8. According to American superstition, a headache can be cured by: Hint

pressing your thumb against the roof of your mouth

wearing your shoes on the wrong feet

pressing a crucifix to your forehead

drinking the urine of a pregnant ewe

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Question 9 of 15

9. An Italian superstition requires you to touch iron after seeing a nun in order to: Hint

maintain your virility

prevent God from wanting to take you early

scare the devil away

preserve your good fortune

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Question 10 of 15

10. In Wales, to cut down a juniper tree means you risk: Hint

a year of poor crops

infertility

flooding rains

death within the year

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. According to British superstition, for a girl to be left with a hair on her lip after kissing a man with a moustache is a sign that she will: Hint

grow facial hair

live a life of ill-repute

bear hirsute children

die a spinster

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Question 12 of 15

12. Lettuce was believed by the Romans to have aphrodisiac qualities, prevent drunkenness, and: Hint

banish evil spirits

prevent venereal diseases

assist in conception

lead to wealth

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. A Mexican-American superstition has it that if a pregnant woman goes out in the full moon or during a lunar eclipse her baby will: Hint

be still born

be born with a hare lip or resembling a wolf

will be born that night, ready or not

be able to see the future

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. Quilters also have superstitions. To break a needle while quilting is a sign that: Hint

there will be a death in the family

you will be travelling a great distance

inclement weather is approaching

the next new baby will be yours

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. An owl hooting among houses, according to Welsh tradition, signifies: Hint

murder

a lost soul is abroad

disease for the residents

An unwed girl has just lost her virginity

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. According to an old English belief, if you hang the dried skin of an adder in the rafters or hearth of your house it will ensure:

Answer: that your house will not burn down

If you kill the first adder you see in spring, your enemies are doomed, but to allow it to live will ensure your own bad luck.

2. A bride must inform bees of her marriage or:

Answer: the bees will leave the hive, never to return

Bees also insist on being informed of a death in the family, or they will die or depart. Sussex folklore (among others) recommends draping the hive in white cloth for a joyous event, black for sad news.

3. Cats are often regarded with some suspicion. According to European tradition, a visit from a stray tortoiseshell cat is:

Answer: a sign of misfortune

Tortoiseshell cats are also credited with foresight, a gift which they could bestow on a child in the family, though in Normandy, seeing a tortoiseshell cat foretold death by accident.

4. According to a British superstition, dew collected on May 1 and rubbed on the face is said to:

Answer: ensure a beautiful complexion for the coming year

Other methods of increasing your beauty include rubbing your face with dry oatmeal each morning, eating carrots, and bathing your face in your morning's first urine!

5. A Portugese superstition states that if someone with the evil eye passes you while you are with your herd of cattle you should:

Answer: place your cap over your testicles, then pass it over the heads of your cows

The greatest protection against the evil eye entering your body is a leaf of rue. An offering should be left with the plant in place of the leaf.

6. In Ireland, for a funeral procession to meet a man on a white horse is an ill omen. If this happens you should:

Answer: force the rider to turn back and join the procession for a short while

Also, shortcuts should be avoided while taking a corpse to its grave. Otherwise the dead person will take this as an insult.

7. "God bless you" is uttered:

Answer: for any of these reasons

"God bless you" has been recorded since AD77 in Pliny's Natural History.

8. According to American superstition, a headache can be cured by:

Answer: pressing your thumb against the roof of your mouth

The Chinese suggest swinging your arms as a cure.

9. An Italian superstition requires you to touch iron after seeing a nun in order to:

Answer: preserve your good fortune

Superstitious Italians may also say, "Your nun" to the next person they see in order to pass the bad luck to someone else.

10. In Wales, to cut down a juniper tree means you risk:

Answer: death within the year

As the juniper tree was said to have played a part in the protection of the infant Jesus from King Herod's men, it is under special protection.

11. According to British superstition, for a girl to be left with a hair on her lip after kissing a man with a moustache is a sign that she will:

Answer: die a spinster

Another British superstition says if a girl is kissed by a dark complexioned man she could expect a proposal - I don't know what should be expected if the dark complexioned man has a moustache...

12. Lettuce was believed by the Romans to have aphrodisiac qualities, prevent drunkenness, and:

Answer: assist in conception

Some traditions attribute lettuce with contraceptive qualities - don't try this at home!

13. A Mexican-American superstition has it that if a pregnant woman goes out in the full moon or during a lunar eclipse her baby will:

Answer: be born with a hare lip or resembling a wolf

A bunch of keys hung in front of the pregnant belly will reflect the moonlight and prevent these disfigurements.

14. Quilters also have superstitions. To break a needle while quilting is a sign that:

Answer: the next new baby will be yours

To prick yourself with the needle while quilting presages a kiss given under the covers. The fulfilling of the first superstition could be caused by breaking the needle in anticipation of this kiss!

15. An owl hooting among houses, according to Welsh tradition, signifies:

Answer: An unwed girl has just lost her virginity

If an owl hoots during a funeral, the deceased will rise up and haunt the living, and as owls are the only creatures which will tolerate a ghost, you can be sure that any abandoned building inhabited by an owl must be haunted.

Source: Author Debbie39

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor natsim before going online.
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