Cake and Death Trivia Quiz

Answer: Agave

This cultural festival dates back many centuries prior to Western colonization of the region. Originally it used to be celebrated at the start of the summer season. After Spanish colonization, the dates were moved to 31 October - 2 November to coincide with the Catholic period of Allhallowtide which has a similar theme of remembering the dead.

Food is prepared to offer to dead ancestors as well as for celebrations with the family on this day. Traditionally, pulque was prepared from the fermented sap of the agave plant and consumed on this day. Other festival treats include sweets called calaveras (sugar skulls) and sweet rolls called pan de muerto.

Answer: Purple

Spanish speakers will spot that the colour is given away by the name, as "colada morada" translates to "strained purple" in Spanish. The main ingredient is a wild berry called mortino which comes to fruit around the time of this festival in the Andes.

Other fruits like pineapples, strawberries and other berries are also added. The beverage is served hot and has a spicy taste. It is considered to symbolize the blood of the ancestors.

Answer: Salad

The faimbre is a type of salad that is prepared and eaten only once in the year - on the "Day of the Dead". The tradition began with people taking the favourite foods of their ancestors to cemeteries to celebrate this day. The food was then mixed and eaten like a cold salad. Since different members had different favourites, the salad could sometimes have over thirty different ingredients. Each family has its own distinct fiambre recipe made up of their ancestors favourite foods.

Answer: Harvest

Chuseok is a major harvest festival. People return to their hometowns to thank their ancestors for the good harvest and carry out rituals to commemorate them. Chuseok translates to 'autumn eve' and occurs during the autumn equinox.

Songpyeon, a type of rice cake, is prepared and offered to ancestors during this festival. The rice cakes typically have sweet fillings like honey and sesame seeds.

Answer: No

Nepal is a predominantly Hindu country, and until it became a secular republic in 2008 was the only Hindu kingdom in the world. Cows are sacred to most adherents of Hinduism and the eating of beef is therefore not allowed.

During Gai Jatra, families who have lost a loved one during the year, lead a cow through the streets of the city or village. The cow is believed to ease the dead person's journey to the after life. If the family is too poor to afford a cow, then a young boy dressed as a cow is led instead.

Answer: Chicken stew

All the food offerings are strictly vegetarian. The food is usually served on banana leaves. Apart from rice and lentils, this may also include preparations of vegetables like beans and gourds. Kheer is a sweet made of rice and milk that is served on auspicious occasions.

Answer: Bread

Radonitsa, which means 'Day of Rejoicing', is observed on the second Tuesday after Easter. It is a day of rejoicing due to the resurrection of Jesus and the hope and joy brought by this. Kulich is a bread that is prepared and eaten only in the period between Easter and Pentecost, special feasts of the Church.

The bread is baked in long, cylindrical tins and then decorated with icing. Food is also left on the graves of deceased family members on this day.

Answer: Rice balls

The festival of Pchum Ben extends over a period of fifteen days and is one of the main festivals of Cambodia. Various offerings of food and drink are made to the dead. Bay ben are balls of rice offered to ghosts at dawn. The balls are made of sticky rice and sesame, sometimes coconut cream is also added. Food is also offered to monks and their prayers are solicited for the dead.

Answer: China

Qingming is the traditional Chinese observance of remembering the dead. It is also known as "Tomb Sweeping Day" or "Ancestors Day". A special food period during this time is qingtuan, a type of dumpling. It is made of rice mixed with barley grass and filled with a black bean paste.

Answer: Roman

The ancient Romans celebrated the festival of Lemuria during which offerings were made to the dead to keep them away during the year. Customs including walking barefoot and throwing black beans to appease the ghosts. A special food prepared at this time was the mola salsa.

This was a type of cake made from flour and salt. The first grains of wheat from a harvest were used in this preparation.