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Quiz about Step on a Crack
Quiz about Step on a Crack

Step on a Crack Trivia Quiz


Remember the saying "Step on a crack, break your mothers back"? Or something along that line. This is a quiz about some of these superstitions and beliefs. In many instances that exact origin of the superstition cannot be proven.

A photo quiz by dcpddc478. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
dcpddc478
Time
4 mins
Type
Photo Quiz
Quiz #
372,321
Updated
Mar 21 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1886
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (7/10), Guest 66 (5/10), maos264 (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. According to Nordic legend, some people believe that putting an acorn at your window will do which of the following?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Believed to have originated in Italy, there is an old belief that it is bad luck to put which of these on a bed? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In many parts of England, it was thought to be good luck to meet which one of these people while going to your wedding? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In England, there is an old saying that pulling out a gray hair will cause which of the following? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Thought to have originated in Italy, breaking a mirror is thought by some to bring bad luck. Which of the following acts is said to keep this bad luck from happening? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The origin of this superstition is ancient Egypt, where it was believed that you should never do which of the following things with an umbrella? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Another English superstition concerns rocking chairs. Which of the following is a common superstition about rocking chairs? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In ancient Rome, it was once thought to be bad luck for someone who is not born in October to wear which of the following gemstones? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Originating with American and British soldiers, which of the following is a somewhat common superstition about matches? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. And finally, the origin of "step on a crack, break your mothers back" comes from the Inuit culture who feared stepping on an ice crack and falling into a crevasse.



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 24: 7/10
Feb 28 2024 : Guest 66: 5/10
Feb 07 2024 : maos264: 7/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. According to Nordic legend, some people believe that putting an acorn at your window will do which of the following?

Answer: Keep lightning out

Believed to have originated in northern Europe, the idea of acorns as objects of good luck has been passed down for generations. The Norse legend of Thor says he took shelter under an oak tree during a storm, which may have led to the idea that acorns provided protection from lightning.

It was very popular to use the acorn design around windows. It was thought that carrying an acorn in your pocket would give you a long life.
2. Believed to have originated in Italy, there is an old belief that it is bad luck to put which of these on a bed?

Answer: Hat

Laying your hat on your bed was considered bad luck in many parts of North America and Europe for centuries. Some of the explanations for this superstition involve the possible transfer of head lice to the bed from the hat or the idea that bad spirits would hide in peoples hair.

But it is more likely that this superstition arose from death rites for monarch. When a king died, his crown was often placed atop the coffin during the funeral rites. In some European cultures that same crown was then transferred onto the monarchs bed until such a time as a new monarch was crowned.

The hat/crown laying on a bed became a symbol of death.
3. In many parts of England, it was thought to be good luck to meet which one of these people while going to your wedding?

Answer: Chimney sweep

The idea of the lucky chimney sweep may have started in the Victorian era. Many chimney sweeps offer the service of coming to a wedding to provide good luck. They usually show up in a Victorian era costume complete with top hat and chimney broom. The sweep usually concludes this visit with a good luck kiss for the bride.

The idea that a chimney sweep is lucky may have started when a chimney sweep is thought to have saved the life of a British king when his horse bolted. In Germany, when you pass a chimney sweep it thought that rubbing one of your buttons as you pass him will bring you good luck.
4. In England, there is an old saying that pulling out a gray hair will cause which of the following?

Answer: It will cause ten more to grow in its place

The exact origin of this belief is not known. It is completely false as each follicle can only grow one hair at a time no matter what color the hair is. There are many superstitions surrounding hair. Some areas in India believe that wearing your hair in a low braid helps in grow faster.

Some Native American tribes believe that your hair is imbued with your spirit, and when you trim it, you should bury it.
5. Thought to have originated in Italy, breaking a mirror is thought by some to bring bad luck. Which of the following acts is said to keep this bad luck from happening?

Answer: Bury all of the pieces of glass during a full moon

The origin of this superstition can be traced back to the Romans, who are believed to have been the first to created glass mirrors. Many early cultures believed that mirrors had the power to confiscate part of the user's soul. Breaking the mirror would cause bad luck, ill health, and/or death.

It was thought that if you used a new shovel to bury the broken mirror under a tree would prevent the bad luck from occurring. But only if done during a full moon. As with most superstitions, there are many variations to this idea.
6. The origin of this superstition is ancient Egypt, where it was believed that you should never do which of the following things with an umbrella?

Answer: Open it inside

Tradition tells us that to open an umbrella up inside a home is to invite bad luck on all people who live in the residence. One of the most popularly quoted origins for this superstition lies with the fact that the umbrella was originally designed as protection from the sun and not the rain. Opening an umbrella indoors was thought to be an insult to the sun.

A few more superstitions concerning umbrellas include: Dropping an umbrella inside a home will cause a murder, it is unlucky to give an umbrella as a gift, and a dropped umbrella should never be picked up by the person who dropped it.
7. Another English superstition concerns rocking chairs. Which of the following is a common superstition about rocking chairs?

Answer: Never leave an empty rocking chair rocking; it invites evil spirits into the home

This superstition, which may have its origins in the country of Ireland, holds that allowing an empty rocking chair to rock is an invitation for evil spirits and possibly even death to come and sit in it and invade the home. It is possible that this superstition, like ones about broomsticks, cats and knitting were associated with old woman and therefore, the thinking went, to witches.
8. In ancient Rome, it was once thought to be bad luck for someone who is not born in October to wear which of the following gemstones?

Answer: Opal

It is possible that there are more superstitions about opals than there are about any other gemstone. One of the most common is associated with the zodiac and says that unless you are born in October, it is bad luck for you to wear an opal. Others include: An opal will lose its shine if the owner dies, improves the wearers eyesight, and that it will turn pale when in the presence of poison.

These are just a few, there are many more.
9. Originating with American and British soldiers, which of the following is a somewhat common superstition about matches?

Answer: It is bad luck to light three cigarettes with one match

The idea of "three on a match" being bad luck is thought to have started with soldiers. The idea was that if three soldiers lit a cigarette off of one match one of them would be killed. Most variations of this superstition add that it is this third person to get a light who will be killed.

There is the theory that by the time the third person managed to light his cigarette, the enemy had enough time to aim and shoot his opponent, which was most likely going to be the third soldier. Even today many people will not be the third on a match, much in the same way some people still throw spilled salt over their shoulders, or are extra careful on Friday the 13th.
10. And finally, the origin of "step on a crack, break your mothers back" comes from the Inuit culture who feared stepping on an ice crack and falling into a crevasse.

Answer: False

The exact origin of this phrase is believed to be English in origin. Some scholars believe this superstition started at a time when people thought that cracks in the ground or pavement led directly to the underworld and that by stepping on a crack an evil demon was released and would bring ill health and bad luck to anyone careless enough to step on one.
Source: Author dcpddc478

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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