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Seven days of questions and answers

Easter Trivia Answers Archive

Review earlier daily rounds, reveal the correct answer, and use the short explanation to learn the fact behind each question. Page 7 of 12 covers seven completed UTC days.

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Daily round

  1. Which underground plant structure stores food for a daffodil between growing seasons?

    Answer: Bulb

    A daffodil grows from a bulb that stores energy underground between its seasonal periods of growth.

  2. Which artist painted the Resurrection fresco now displayed in the Museo Civico of Sansepolcro?

    Answer: Piero della Francesca

    Piero della Francesca painted the Resurrection for Sansepolcro's civic palace, where the building now houses the Museo Civico.

  3. Tsoureki, a braided Easter bread popular in Greece, gets its distinctive flavor and golden color primarily from which ingredient?

    Answer: Mahleb and mastic resin

    Greek tsoureki is flavored with mahleb (ground cherry-kernel spice) and sometimes mastic resin (mastiha), giving it a subtly floral, piney aroma, while red dyed eggs are often nested in the braids as a centerpiece.

  4. The astronomical event that can cause Easter to fall as late as April 25 in some years is related to what?

    Answer: A full moon falling after March 21

    Easter is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox, which can push the date to April 25.

  5. Which tree is famous for producing pink or white blossoms in early spring and is often called 'Easter tree' in parts of Europe?

    Answer: Hawthorn

    The hawthorn is known as the Easter tree in some European traditions because it typically blooms around Easter time.

Daily round

  1. Which jewelry house created the Imperial Easter eggs commissioned by Russia's imperial family?

    Answer: House of Fabergé

    The House of Fabergé produced the famous jeweled Imperial Easter eggs for members of Russia's imperial family.

  2. In which century did the practice of observing a pre-Easter fast of 40 days become standardized in the Western church?

    Answer: 4th century

    The 40-day Lenten fast became formally established in the 4th century, with the Council of Nicaea (325 CE) providing early evidence of its widespread acceptance.

  3. Which spring flower, a member of the Liliaceae family, is commonly called the "Lent lily" in England because it typically blooms during the Lenten season?

    Answer: Daffodil

    The wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is traditionally known in parts of England as the Lent lily because its flowering period closely aligns with the weeks of Lent leading up to Easter.

  4. In Bulgaria and Romania, the Easter egg-tapping game, in which two players tap the pointed ends of their eggs together until one cracks, is most commonly known by what name?

    Answer: Lupanje

    In Bulgaria, the egg-tapping game is called lupanje, and the person whose egg remains uncracked is believed to enjoy good health and luck for the coming year; the winning egg is often preserved until the next Easter.

  5. Egg rolling is a popular Easter activity in several countries. On whose lawn did the White House Easter Egg Roll tradition reportedly begin in 1878?

    Answer: Rutherford B. Hayes's

    President Rutherford B. Hayes officially opened the White House lawn to children for egg rolling in 1878, starting an annual tradition.

Daily round

  1. On what day of the week does Holy Week begin?

    Answer: Sunday

    Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, which commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and falls one week before Easter Sunday.

  2. How is the date of Easter determined in Western Christianity?

    Answer: The first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox

    Western Christianity calculates Easter as the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the March 21 vernal equinox.

  3. In which country is the tradition of crafting elaborate pysanky—eggs decorated with intricate wax-resist patterns—most strongly associated?

    Answer: Ukraine

    Pysanky (from the Ukrainian word meaning "to write") is a centuries-old Ukrainian folk art in which beeswax and successive dye baths build up layered geometric and symbolic motifs on eggshells.

  4. In Christian art, the Latin title Agnus Dei identifies Christ with which animal?

    Answer: Lamb

    Agnus Dei means Lamb of God, a title represented by a lamb in Christian art and liturgy.

  5. Hot cross buns are spiced sweet buns marked with a cross on top. In which country did a 1592 edict temporarily restrict their sale to Good Friday, Christmas, and burials?

    Answer: England

    Elizabeth I of England issued a decree limiting the sale of spiced buns with religious symbols to specific holy days, though enforcement was inconsistent and the buns remained popular year-round in practice.

Daily round

  1. Decoupage, a technique often used to decorate Easter eggs, involves adhering what material to the shell surface?

    Answer: Cut paper

    Decoupage is the art of decorating objects by gluing colored paper cutouts onto them and sealing with varnish.

  2. Simnel cake, a fruit cake topped with a layer of marzipan and eleven marzipan balls, is traditionally associated with which holiday period in the UK?

    Answer: Mothering Sunday and Easter

    Simnel cake is eaten during Lent and Easter, with strong associations to Mothering Sunday; its eleven marzipan balls are said to represent the faithful apostles, excluding Judas.

  3. In Germany, the "Osterbaum" (Easter tree) is a custom involving what activity?

    Answer: Decorating tree branches with hung eggs

    Families in Germany and parts of Austria hang blown and decorated eggs from the branches of cut trees or outdoor bushes to create an Osterbaum, a colorful Easter display that has been documented since at least the 16th century.

  4. The Easter Lamb cake, baked in a lamb-shaped mold and frosted with white icing, is a tradition most strongly associated with which European-American communities in the United States?

    Answer: German-American

    The lamb cake tradition was brought to the United States by German immigrants, who used cast-iron molds to bake a pound-cake-style lamb dusted with powdered sugar or coated in white frosting, often with a small flag inserted as a finishing touch.

  5. Which color of Easter egg, in many Eastern European Christian traditions, is traditionally dyed first and given special significance as a symbol of new life and resurrection?

    Answer: Red

    In Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Greek Orthodox traditions, the first egg dyed at Easter is always red, and it is kept in the home as a protective talisman symbolizing the blood of Christ and the joy of resurrection.

Daily round

  1. In a botanical egg-dyeing technique, what is held against the shell before wrapping and dyeing to leave a plant-shaped silhouette?

    Answer: A small leaf or flower

    A small leaf or flower can be pressed against the shell under a tight wrapping so the dye leaves its silhouette behind.

  2. What significant event in Christian tradition is said to have occurred 50 days after Easter Sunday?

    Answer: The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

    Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles as described in the Acts of the Apostles.

  3. In France, what massive edible structure is traditionally constructed in town squares on Easter Monday as part of a communal celebration?

    Answer: A giant omelette

    The town of Bessières in southwestern France is famous for its Fraternity of the Giant Omelette, which cooks over 4,500 eggs in a massive pan in the town square each Easter Monday, a tradition linked to Napoleon's visit.

  4. Which technique involves blowing out the contents of an egg through small holes at each end before decorating the shell?

    Answer: Egg blowing

    Egg blowing involves piercing both ends of a raw egg and using air pressure to empty the contents, leaving an intact shell for decorating.

  5. What is the name of the prayer service held at the tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday?

    Answer: The Holy Fire ceremony

    The Holy Fire ceremony takes place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, during which the Orthodox patriarch enters the tomb and emerges with a flame that is passed among the faithful.

Daily round

  1. The word 'vernal' is commonly paired with 'equinox' around Easter. What does 'vernal' mean?

    Answer: Spring

    Vernal derives from the Latin word vernus, meaning of or related to spring.

  2. In Eastern Orthodox iconography, which event is most commonly depicted directly below the resurrection (Anastasis) icon?

    Answer: The Harrowing of Hell

    The Orthodox Anastasis icon shows Christ descending into Hades to liberate the righteous dead, commonly referred to as the Harrowing of Hell, and is the central image of Orthodox Easter theology.

  3. What does the Exsultet, sung at the Easter Vigil, proclaim?

    Answer: The glory of the Paschal candle and Christ's victory over death

    The Exsultet (or Praeconium Paschale) is an ancient hymn of praise sung at the Easter Vigil, blessing the Paschal candle and declaring Christ's resurrection as the triumph of light over darkness.

  4. Which bird is a traditional Christian symbol of peace and sometimes appears in Easter artwork?

    Answer: Dove

    A dove is a longstanding Christian symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit and can appear in Easter-season art.

  5. Lamb is a traditional Easter main course in many Mediterranean and European cultures. Which of these dishes is a Greek Easter specialty made of offal, herbs, and rice wrapped in lamb intestine?

    Answer: Kokoretsi

    Kokoretsi is a festive Greek dish of seasoned organ meats wrapped in lamb intestines and slow-roasted on a spit, commonly served at Easter celebrations alongside roast lamb.

Daily round

  1. What is the traditional name for the Sunday before Easter that commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem?

    Answer: Palm Sunday

    Palm Sunday recalls the Gospel accounts of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey while crowds spread palm branches on the road, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels.

  2. What breed of domestic rabbit, known for its floppy ears and calm temperament, is among the most frequently chosen as a pet around Easter time?

    Answer: Holland Lop

    The Holland Lop is consistently one of the most popular pet rabbit breeds, and animal welfare organizations regularly urge people to consider long-term care before acquiring one as an Easter gift.

  3. Which spring bulb flower, native to Central Asia, is one of the earliest to bloom and often appears around Easter?

    Answer: Crocus

    Crocuses are among the first spring bulbs to bloom, often pushing through snow in late winter or early spring.

  4. Which day of Holy Week is traditionally called "Spy Wednesday"?

    Answer: The Wednesday before Easter

    Spy Wednesday refers to the Wednesday of Holy Week, named for Judas Iscariot's arrangement to betray Jesus on that day.

  5. Which spice commonly provides the warm, sweet aroma in hot cross buns?

    Answer: Cinnamon

    Cinnamon is a common spice in hot cross buns, often paired with nutmeg or mixed spice.