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Seasonal and occasions · 12 questions
Witches, legends and superstitions quiz
Twelve questions on the things we touch wood about. Do not walk under any ladders.
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Question 1 of 12
Breaking a mirror is traditionally said to bring how many years of bad luck?
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- 1. Breaking a mirror is traditionally said to bring how many years of bad luck?
- A. Three
- B. Five
- C. Seven (answer)
- D. Thirteen
The belief that a broken mirror brings bad luck goes back to old folklore about reflections. - 2. What is the fear of the number 13 called?
- A. Triskaidekaphobia (answer)
- B. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
- C. Arithmophobia
- D. Numerophobia
Triskaidekaphobia combines Greek roots referring to thirteen and fear. - 3. In the UK, a black cat crossing your path is traditionally considered what?
- A. Bad luck
- B. Good luck (answer)
- C. A sign of rain
- D. A sign of visitors
In Britain black cats are often lucky, unlike much of the USA. - 4. Which school does Harry Potter attend?
- A. Durmstrang
- B. Hogwarts (answer)
- C. Beauxbatons
- D. Ilvermorny
Hogwarts is a fictional school of magic in the Harry Potter stories. - 5. In 'The Wizard of Oz', what melts the Wicked Witch of the West?
- A. Fire
- B. Sunlight
- C. Water (answer)
- D. Salt
In the original 'Wizard of Oz' story, the witch is defeated by water. - 6. How many witches appear together in the opening of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'?
- A. Two
- B. Three (answer)
- C. Four
- D. Five
The witches in 'Macbeth' are also known as the Weird Sisters. - 7. What is traditionally thrown over your left shoulder to ward off bad luck?
- A. Sugar
- B. Salt (answer)
- C. Rice
- D. Pepper
The salt-over-the-shoulder ritual is a long-standing European superstition. - 8. Which garlic-hating creature of legend has no reflection?
- A. Werewolf
- B. Vampire (answer)
- C. Zombie
- D. Ghoul
The idea that vampires cast no reflection appears in many versions of vampire folklore. - 9. A werewolf traditionally transforms under what?
- A. A new moon
- B. A full moon (answer)
- C. An eclipse
- D. A blood moon
The full-moon transformation is a popular werewolf story convention, not a scientific fact. - 10. Which famous witch trials took place in Massachusetts in 1692?
- A. Salem (answer)
- B. Boston
- C. Plymouth
- D. Concord
The Salem witch trials led to the execution of 20 people. - 11. What does "touch wood" aim to do?
- A. Summon luck
- B. Avoid tempting fate (answer)
- C. Ward off ghosts
- D. Make a wish come true
People in several cultures use a similar phrase to ward off bad luck after tempting fate. - 12. A four-leaf clover is a symbol of luck in which country's folklore especially?
- A. Scotland
- B. Ireland (answer)
- C. Wales
- D. Norway
The four-leaf clover is rare because most clovers have three leaflets.
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