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Trinidad Carnival Trivia Quiz

Known as "the greatest show on earth", Trinidad and Tobago Carnival has a rich and diverse history.

A multiple-choice quiz by SBH. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
SBH

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
159,797

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
590

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Enslaved workers in the cane fields brought traditional West African cultural expressions into Carnival. These included all except...? Hint

Tambou bamboo (bamboo drum)

Hosay

Calinda (call-and-answer song)

Ritual stickfighting

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Question 2 of 10

2. The three main arts of Trinidad Carnival are all these except: Hint

Steelpan

Soca

Mumming

Masquerade

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following is not a well-known steelband? Hint

Xtatik

Renegades

Desperados

Phase II Pan Groove

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the following is not a revered calypsonian? Hint

King David Rudder

Lord Kitchener

Dr. Eric Williams

Mighty Sparrow

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Question 5 of 10

5. There are dozens of traditional Carnival masquerade figures, including all of the following except...? Hint

Burroquite

Midnight Robber

Jab Molassie

Soucouyant

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Question 6 of 10

6. At one time Carnival was mainly participated in by the underclasses and "nice" people didn't take part. Certainly the jamettes have always taken part. Who is a jamette? Hint

A sailor from the dockyards

A child beggar

A poor boy from the hills

A woman of the streets

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Question 7 of 10

7. Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is timed to correspond with what season of the Christian calendar? Hint

The first two days of Christmas

The last two days before Lent

Easter Saturday and Sunday

The two days before All Saint's Day

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Question 8 of 10

8. The two days of Carnival are broken into various parts. For example, what's "jouvert"? Hint

The last few moments before midnight on Tuesday

The hours before dawn on Monday morning

The time when masqueraders compete for costume prizes

A calypso showdown on Tuesday afternoon

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Question 9 of 10

9. In which of the following cities would you fail to find a huge annual Carnival-style festival based on the Trinidad model? Hint

Notting Hill, England

Toronto, Canada

Brooklyn, USA

Glasgow, Scotland

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Question 10 of 10

10. Finally, if you were visiting Trinidad or Tobago at Carnival, you'd want to keep your strength up. But which of these would you be least likely to sample? Hint

Jerk pork

Pelau

Callaloo and crab

Doubles

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Enslaved workers in the cane fields brought traditional West African cultural expressions into Carnival. These included all except...?

Answer: Hosay

Hosay is an East Indian festival that was incorporated into Carnival much later.

2. The three main arts of Trinidad Carnival are all these except:

Answer: Mumming

Competitions are held in all three forms every year.

3. Which of the following is not a well-known steelband?

Answer: Xtatik

Xtatik is a brass band.

4. Which of the following is not a revered calypsonian?

Answer: Dr. Eric Williams

Dr. Eric Williams served as Prime Minister of Trinidad. The rest are calypsonians of international reputation.

5. There are dozens of traditional Carnival masquerade figures, including all of the following except...?

Answer: Soucouyant

A soucouyant is a scary supernatural female from Trinidad and Tobago folklore. A burroquite is a horse-and-rider costume; Jab Molassie is a painted devil, while Midnight Robber is a pirate-like manifestation of Death.

6. At one time Carnival was mainly participated in by the underclasses and "nice" people didn't take part. Certainly the jamettes have always taken part. Who is a jamette?

Answer: A woman of the streets

The word comes from Creole French "diametre", meaning literally the lower half (diameter) of the social circle.

7. Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is timed to correspond with what season of the Christian calendar?

Answer: The last two days before Lent

Carnival is held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which usually falls in February/March, although the preparatory season begins months ahead.

8. The two days of Carnival are broken into various parts. For example, what's "jouvert"?

Answer: The hours before dawn on Monday morning

It comes from the French "jour ouvert", meaning the opening of the day, and it's the time for rough-and-ready satirical masquerade and primal rituals like the greased Jab Molassies who smear other revellers with messy oil, paint or other ooze to ease their transition into the sacred space of Carnival.

9. In which of the following cities would you fail to find a huge annual Carnival-style festival based on the Trinidad model?

Answer: Glasgow, Scotland

There are dozens of Caribbean Carnivals around the world. Brooklyn, Notting Hill and Toronto's Caribana are among the biggest. Each attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers to the streets every year.

10. Finally, if you were visiting Trinidad or Tobago at Carnival, you'd want to keep your strength up. But which of these would you be least likely to sample?

Answer: Jerk pork

Jerk pork is really a Jamaican specialty. The rest of the foods are easy to find in Trinidad: Callaloo is a green vegetable-based soup; doubles are chickpea-filled treats, and pelau is a rice dish.

Source: Author SBH

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