Uncle Sam Wants You! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Iceland

Also known as Fjallkonan, the Lady of the Mountain is the national personification of the country of Iceland. She is believed to depict the adamant wish of Iceland to be totally independent from reliance on other nations. She was first mentioned in the 1752 poem "Ofsjonir" by Eggart Olafsson. She has been depicted many times in Icelandic art and literature since her emergence.

Answer: Norway

Ola Nordmann represents the country of Norway and is usually depicted wearing a red top cap, which is commonly seen in the farming communities of the country. He is used to depict the common man, or the population as a whole and has a female counterpart named Kari Nordmann. He is usually depicted in traditional garb and has a plump, elderly countenance.

Answer: Greece

The ancient Greek goddess Athena is often used to represent the proud country of Greece. Statues, paintings, and other depictions of her abound all over the country. Athens, the capital city of Greece, is named in her honor. She considered the epitome of courage, wisdom, and power to this long standing nation.

Answer: Haiti

Ezili Dantor, or Erzulie D'en Tort is used as the representative personification for the island nation of Haiti. The image is thought to have been introduced onto the island by Polish soldiers during the 1802 Haitian Revolution. She is associated with Haitian Voodoo and represents motherhood.

This black Madonna is often honored by the sacrifice of a black pig and the offering of cigarettes, perfume, and rum.

Answer: False

While this character is known as "Der Deutshe Michel" he is the personification of Germany, not The Netherlands. He is usually shown as wearing a nightgown and a floppy nightcap. He is depicted as having family values, being happy and easy going, while being strong and of honest nature.

The country of Germany also has a female counterpart known as Germania who is depicted as a strong Germanic warrior. Both are usually seen wearing red, black, and gold, the colors of the German flag.

Answer: John Bull

John Bull is one of the characters that is considered a personification of Great Britain, England in particular. The character of John Bull is credited to Scottish mathematician and physician John Arbuthnot. He was a character that appeared in five pamphlets that were published in 1712 which were entitled "The History of John Bull".

In 19th century periodical "Punch" featured him regularly, earning him a place as one of the symbols of the country. He is portrayed as an honest farmer figure. His jovial persona is also portrayed as solid and dependable.

He is usually portrayed wearing a Union Jack waistcoat, carrying a cane and accompanied by an English bulldog.

Answer: India

Bharat Mata is also known as 'Mother India'. This personification came about during the move for independence in the 19th century. She is usually shown wearing a saffron colored sari while carrying the national flag. She is a mixture of motherhood, nationhood, and the philosophical traditions of the Hindu religion.

Answer: Lumberjack

Johnny Canuck originated in political cartoons around 1860. While he has been depicted as a soldier or farmer, he is usually depicted as a lumberjack. He was considered to be the representation of 'everyman'. He was a simple, hardworking member of the country, who was often shown standing up to the personifications of larger or more powerful countries that were attempting to exert control of some kind over him, such as John Bull or Uncle Sam.

His use started to decline and in 1941 a comic-book superhero appeared with the same name, whose duty was to save and protect the country from Nazi Germany.

His image is still used by the National Hockey League team known as the Vancouver Canucks.

Answer: Serbia

The Kosovo Maiden is a character from Serbian epic poetry. She portrays the nation's compassion, bravery, and personal integrity. She is usually depicted as a beautiful young female aiding Serbian soldiers during battle. She is an old symbol, having first arisen around 1389 during the Battle of Kosovo, between Serbia and the Ottoman Empire.

Answer: Columbia

Columbia is a female personification of the U.S.A. that has largely fallen out of use. Her name can be found in many places, such as the capital city which is named the District of Columbia. Usually depicted clad in a loose gown made from the American flag she actually appeared for the first time in 1738, before the flag even existed.

She is just one example of the use of Roman terms and symbols that were adopted by the U.S. during their voyage of self-identification and self-discovery. She is often seen accompanying Uncle Sam.