It's Truly Magic! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Legerdemain

Legerdemain is taken from the French words "leger de main", which literally means "light of hand". The true act of magic never occurs, but instead the performer uses trickery and techniques that deceive the eye. Children believe that the magician really pulled a white rabbit out of his hat, but in fact it was pulled out of a secret compartment by sleight of hand. One of the most popular forms of legerdemain is manipulating cards or coins to make them appear or disappear.

Answer: Helm of Awe

Another word for Helm of Awe is "ægishjálmur". It is an Icelandic symbol which was used to stave off disaster when Vikings went to war. Warriors allegedly marked the symbol on to their foreheads, giving them magical powers which they would use against the enemy.

The design shows eight spiked tridents spreading from a central point and today it can be used as a jewellery charm to promote protection.

Answer: Philtre

Philtre (also philter) is taken from the Greek word "philtron", which means "loving" or "beloved". A specially concocted potion was normally made by mixing wine, herbs and drugs, and secretly given to another person to incite feelings of love. Harmless potions included jasmine to spark passion, rose to reduce anxiety, the sensual taste of vanilla to create pleasure and cinnamon to increase sex drive.

The potion had to be made during the correct lunar phase to make the spell enchanted. The addition of henbane and mandrake roots could induce vomiting and diarrhea so these were avoided.

Answer: Grimoire

Used by witches, wizards and sorcerers, a grimoire is a textbook collection of spells, charms and divinations. They were used to conjure up supernatural forces, spirits and demons, as well as perform tricks and magical applications. "The Sworn Book of Honorius", or "Liber Juratus", dates back to the 14th century and is believed to be the oldest medieval grimoire in existence.

This collection of tracts on magic is held at the British Library (Sloane 3854).

Answer: Judgement

Tarot cards date back to the late 14th century and have been used to interpret fortunes for many who believe in the occult. There are 78 cards in each pack; 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards which are divided across four suits; Cups, Swords, Wands and Pentacles. Each card has a different meaning. If the Judgement card is picked, difficult choices have to be made. If you are normally quick to jump to conclusions, slow down and take your time before a decision is made and your fate is sealed.

Answer: Obeah

Similar to Voodoo magic used in Haiti, Obeah is a type of black magic sometimes practised in rural areas of Jamaica, Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago, although it was made illegal due to strong Christian religious belief that the spells were evil. The Obeah men or women have been handed down special powers over the years and these include the power to restore life, fight sickness and ward off evil spirits.

These people are most often seen on their front porches receiving visitors and giving advice.

Answer: Mandrake

Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is a poisonous European and North African plant, primarily found growing around the Mediterranean Sea. Digesting the leaves and roots can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and sometimes lead to asphyxiation. The hallucinogenic properties were used in magic and witchcraft to cause harm to another. Ancient folklore claimed that if you dug up a mandrake root under the wrong conditions, it would scream and kill whoever was in hearing distance. Text taken from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" included the words "Shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth".

Answer: Circe

The Greek enchantress Circe was the daughter of Helios, god of the sun, and Perse, a nymph from the sea. Legend says that she lived on the mythical island of Aiaia along with a group of nymph attendants. She was an expert at the magic of metamorphosis and would create magical potions which turned her enemies into animals.

The name Circe, or Kirke, is taken from the Greek word "kirkoo" meaning "hoop around", alluding to her skill at running circles around people with her magic.

Answer: Langlock

The Langlock spell was created by Severus Snape while he was a student at Hogwart's school during the 1970s. Harry Potter used langlock in the J. K. Rowling book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" when he cast a spell on Peeves the Poltergeist. Peeves was forever roaming the corridors causing trouble and many school caretakers tried to get rid of him but he was like part of the woodwork and impossible to remove. Langlock was taken from the French word "langue" (meaning tongue), and the English word "lock".

Answer: Scrying

Scrying is carried out by people who look into crystal balls, clear water, mirrors, smoke or fire to see visions to foretell the future. The art of scrying dates back to around 3000 BC in China, and was a practice used later in Egypt and then Ancient Greece.

The word scrying comes from the English word "descry" which means "to catch sight of" or "discover by looking carefully". The most popular scryer in fiction was the wicked witch in the fairy tale, "Snow White, who was often seen looking into her magic mirror and chanting "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?".