ROUND 3: History- Holidays and Observances
1. This day was first observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane,
Washington. It was created to honour William Smart, a
widower who raised five children.
A. Father's Day
2. Name the successor to Wiarton Willie, who is supposed to
predict the weather on Groundhog Day in Wiarton, Ontario.
A. Wee Willie (accept "Willie Jr." or "Wee Willie 1"
or "Wee Willie 2" [there is now a backup groundhog])
3. Dr. Maulana Karenga, an African studies professor, created this
cultural holiday in 1966.
A. Kwanzaa
4. Which holiday commemorates the Mexican victory at Puebla in
1862 over the invading French army?
A. Cinco de Mayo (accept "May 5th")
5. What name is given to the first day of Lent?
A. Ash Wednesday
6. What is the traditional name of the Ukrainian Easter Egg?
A. Pysanka (accept "pysanky", the plural form)
7. This holiday is a five day Hindu festival that occurs in
October or November in the Western calendar. The celebration
is often referred to as the "Festival of Lights".
A. Diwali (accept Divali or Deepavali)
8. Name this other Festival of Lights; it is a celebration of
the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the
Jerusalem Temple.
A. Hannukah (many English spellings exist)
9. Purim is a Jewish holiday recounted in a book telling
the story of which Biblical queen?
A. Esther
10. The Netherlands celebrates Queens Day on April 30th.
Two queens are honoured on this day; name either the one
whose birthday is celebrated, or the one whose coronation
is commemorated.
A. Juliana; Beatrix