In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is traditionally celebrated with “first footing,” or visiting friends and family. True or false: To bring luck, the first guest to cross your threshold should be a woman with red hair. The African-American festival known as Kwanzaa lasts for seven days. At what time of year is the holiday celebrated? […]
Some say that Argentina has two national anthems — the official hymn and the tango. True or false: The best bandoneóns (tango accordions) are made in Germany. Technically speaking, a tenor has to be able to sing a two-octave range from approximately B-flat to B-flat. Match these tenor arias with their operas. A. “Nessun dorma” […]
The first European king to reign in the Americas was: A. Larry King B. John, ruler of the Empire of Brazil C. Maximilian, ruler of the Empire of Mexico D. Armand Assante, the Mambo King (cha-cha-cha!) Today, the Caribbean is host to a thriving tourist industry. Who was the first US president to visit a […]
A distinguished Hispanic executive hands you a business card that looks like this: Miguel Eduardo Cela y Banderas. You should call him: A. Señor Eduardo B. Señor Cela C. Señor Banderas D. Señor y The current ruler of Saudi Arabia is King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud. What was his father’s name? A. Fahd B. […]
True or false: The term haute couture was coined in 1947, after several large fashion design houses were established in Paris. Paris was not always the center of fashion. What city was considered the fashion capital during the early to high Renaissance? A. London B. Brussels, Belgium C. Florence, Italy A blanket cape, worn for […]
“You’re never fully dressed without a smile” is a familiar phrase in the United States. True or false: A smile is a universal expression of genuine pleasure. Japan is a high context culture, where small gestures convey great meaning. Which is an appropriate behavior in Japan? A. Covering your mouth when you laugh B. Winking […]
At the most exclusive restaurant in Caracas, you need a well-placed table to impress your new client. Like the song says, “You can’t always get what you want …” unless you tip the: A. Sommelier B. Maitre d’ C. Waiter Marshmallows, corn on the cob, grits, pumpkin pie, crawfish, hot dogs. True or false: Most […]
or “Good luck befriend thee” – Milton Many people believe in carrying a talisman for good luck: a lucky penny, a rabbit’s foot, etc. True or false: It is a German custom to carry a large scale from the head of a carp eaten on Christmas Eve. Preventing the malocchio (evil eye or evil spell) […]
True or false: Nine Men’s Morris is an English version of a medieval game and is mentioned in the works of Shakespeare. Match each of the following games with their area of origin. A. Pente 1. Canada B. Tablero de Jesus 2. Greece C. Trivial Pursuit 3. Spain Kriegspiel began as a complex game of […]
The national symbol of Scotland is the thistle. True or false: This symbol is traced to the 1263 Battle of Largs, when a hidden Scandinavian invader stepped on a thistle and cried out in pain. Chinese tradition recognizes “Four Gentlemen of Flowers,” associating flowers with the seasons. Bamboo is associated with spring; match these other […]
