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April the First Trivia Quiz

Love practical jokes? Then your favorite day must be April 1st. See if you know the answers to these questions on April Fool's Day and other similar days.

A multiple-choice quiz by minch. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
minch

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
203,659

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1935

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In which country do most people think that April Fools' Day originated?
Hint

Germany

Italy

France

Ireland

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Question 2 of 10

2. Even the ancient Romans had a day of jokes. When did it take place? Hint

Festival of Funaria

Festival of Humerus

Festival of Hilaria

Festival of Lupercale

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Question 3 of 10

3. In which country are you called an 'April gowk' rather than an 'April fool?' If you're a Sassenach, you might not know this.

Answer: (One word)

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Question 4 of 10

4. April the first, at one time, was New Year's Day.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. April is named for a Latin word - aprilis. What does this word mean? Hint

to rain

to open

to bloom

to get warmer

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Question 6 of 10

6. On April 1st 1957, the BBC played a practical joke on its viewers. A program showed a certain product being harvested in Switzerland. What was it? Hint

bananas

spaghetti

candy floss (cotton candy)

cornflakes

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Question 7 of 10

7. Mexico does not observe April 1st, but it does have a special day to play pranks. In what month is this day? Hint

February

April

December

January

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Question 8 of 10

8. In France you don't say 'April Fool' you say April -----'? Hint

donkey

fish

grasshopper

parrot

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who made this statement? "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."
Hint

Mark Twain

Oscar Wilde

Ogden Nash

Edward Lear

10. Some countries have days of prank playing in the days immediately before the start of Lent. This prank consisists of throwing a certain substance at other people. What is this common substance? Hint

sugar

salt

flour

shredded paper

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which country do most people think that April Fools' Day originated?

Answer: France

April the first is commonly known as April Fool's Day or All Fools' Day in most English speaking countries. The custom is believed to have started in France when the Gregorian calendar was adopted by King Charles IX in 1582. In this calendar the new year started on January 1. People who did not use the new date but still celebrated on April 1st became the butt of jokes.

2. Even the ancient Romans had a day of jokes. When did it take place?

Answer: Festival of Hilaria

This day is also known as Roman Laughing Day. In ancient Rome, the festival of Hilaria was held to celebrate the god Attis. Hilaria is probably where we get the words "hilarious" and "hilarity" from.

3. In which country are you called an 'April gowk' rather than an 'April fool?' If you're a Sassenach, you might not know this.

Answer: Scotland

A 'gowk' is the Scottish word for 'cuckoo'.
Sassenach is a Scottish term for one who is not a Scot, usually referring to someone from England.

4. April the first, at one time, was New Year's Day.

Answer: True

This was changed on the introduction of the Gregorian calendar.

5. April is named for a Latin word - aprilis. What does this word mean?

Answer: to open

The definition is not known for sure, but it is generally considered that the name comes from the Latin word aprilis, which means to open.
Another theory is that it comes from the Greek Aphrodite.

6. On April 1st 1957, the BBC played a practical joke on its viewers. A program showed a certain product being harvested in Switzerland. What was it?

Answer: spaghetti

The highly acclaimed documentary programme "Panorama" showed strands of spaghetti being plucked from bushes. This resulted in many phone calls to the BBC, most of which were from viewers who believed the tale and wanted to know where they could buy spaghetti plants!

7. Mexico does not observe April 1st, but it does have a special day to play pranks. In what month is this day?

Answer: December

December 28th is the day that Mexicans play jokes on each other. At one time this was a day to remember killing of the young children by King Herod. However, over time it became a happier day of pranks and foolish jokes.

8. In France you don't say 'April Fool' you say April -----'?

Answer: fish

French children often play tricks on their friends by sticking a paper fish on their posteriors. When the the fish is discovered his friends yell "Poisson d'avril!"

9. Who made this statement? "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."

Answer: Mark Twain

From Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar.

Answer: flour

The tradition in Portugal, Jamaica and some other countries, is to throw flour at your friends! As Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, which is usually at the end of February or beginning of March, these prank days are usually in February. In Mexico eggs are filled with flour and cracked on people's heads.

Source: Author minch

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