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The Body Superstitious Trivia Quiz

Our bodies are hotbeds of superstition, and this quiz addresses some of them. Most come from the Celtic and Anglo traditions, and can be found in "A Dictionary Of Superstitions," edited by Iona Opie and Moira Tatem.

A multiple-choice quiz by gretas. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
gretas

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
213,458

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
2135

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Ah! It's the end of another trying day, and as the wife of a Scottish fisherman, all you want to do is slip into bed and dream of your mate's return from sea. To ensure that he will return safely, what should you not do after sunset? Hint

speak his name out loud

touch his belongings

look out the window

comb your hair

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Lucky you! Your best friend is a hairdresser who has just given you a stylish new haircut for free! But since you live near a bird sanctuary, you must dispose carefully of the hair cuttings or else a certain bird might pick them up, causing you to die within a year! Which bird can cause this awful fate? Hint

magpie

starling

crow

raven

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. How exciting! Your Uncle Bill has just dropped by with the news that he's won the lottery! After asking him to pay your overdue mortgage bill, which part of his body should you rub in order to gain some good luck of your own? Hint

hand

chest

forehead

nose

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. You've just awakened from a good night's sleep and are rubbing your eyes when an eyelash falls onto your finger. Being a superstitious person, you quickly blow on it three times and make a wish. Sadly, the eyelash remains on your finger. What will happen now? Hint

bad luck will occur

your wish won't come true

you'll soon have reason to weep

you'll lose a friend

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Oh, no....you're out taking a walk when you see a bare-footed woman with red hair strolling leisurely in your direction! As a quick-thinking superstitious person who wants to avoid bad luck at all costs, what should you do? Hint

lower your eyes and walk on

cross your fingers as you pass her

refuse to speak to her

run in the opposite direction

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. You're rushing out of the house on your way to work when a man with a wooden leg passes suddenly in front of you. Will this unexpected sight bring good luck or bad luck?

Answer: (two words)

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. How annoying! Your knee won't stop itching. As you scratch it, your superstitious Aunt Melda insists that an itching knee means that you will soon kneel.... Hint

before a king

in a strange church

beside a sick bed

in prayer

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. You're at a family dinner, listening to your boastful cousin Larry go on about his huge bank account and gorgeous new girlfriend. Suddenly, in the middle of dessert, he cries, "Egads! I've just bitten my tongue!" Secretly, you're glad since this is a sign that your boastful cousin Larry... Hint

will soon suffer a loss

has been lying

is hiding a dark secret

is a moron

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. According to superstition, the presence of a "uni-brow" on one's face is considered a sign of bad character and/or future bad luck.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. You've decided to treat yourself to a manicure at the Va-Va-Voom Hair & Nails Salon. Good for you! But to make the most of the occasion, you probably should make your appointment for a Monday since clipping one's nails on that day means that you'll receive.... Hint

half price off your manicure

good news from far away

a present later in the week

a visit from an old friend

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: comb your hair

Ancient Scottish tradition is filled with superstitions concerning the wives of seafaring men. Among them is one that attaches negative consequences to the act of pointing at a woman whose husband is away at sea. To do so will not only bring misfortune to the seafaring man, it will evoke anger and sharp words from the woman at whom you have pointed.

Answer: magpie

Magpies figure frequently in superstitious tradition, most often as omens of death or misfortune. But not always. To see two magpies together is a sign of coming mirth, and to see a group of three means that you will soon hear news of a wedding.

Answer: hand

Although this particular superstition is credited to Yorkshire tradition, it seems a fairly universal concept: i.e. "You just won money? Oooh, let me rub your hand so some of that good luck will transfer to me!"

Answer: your wish won't come true

According to "Household Tales," a compilation of superstitions published in Britain in 1895, those who are successful in blowing the eyelash off their finger must then remain silent until someone asks a question to which they can reply, "Yes." Sounds like an impossible task to me.

Answer: run in the opposite direction

This would have been a very difficult superstition to observe at Woodstock, don't you think? Not to mention in a family with one or more red-haired women and only one bathroom....

6. You're rushing out of the house on your way to work when a man with a wooden leg passes suddenly in front of you. Will this unexpected sight bring good luck or bad luck?

Answer: good luck

Conversely, to see the back of a wooden leg is supposed to bring bad luck to the witness. It would be best, it seems, for superstitious people to stay off the sets of pirate movies.

7. How annoying! Your knee won't stop itching. As you scratch it, your superstitious Aunt Melda insists that an itching knee means that you will soon kneel....

Answer: in a strange church

Of course, this is not necessarily a negative scenario, especially if you enjoy attending church and will soon be going away on holiday.

Answer: has been lying

Shakespeare expands on the tell-tale tongue theme in "Winters Tale," ascribing the presence of blisters on one's tongue to the telling of lies.

9. According to superstition, the presence of a "uni-brow" on one's face is considered a sign of bad character and/or future bad luck.

Answer: True

Unfortunately, this superstition doesn't inform us whether shaving or plucking one's uni-brow will alter the situation. But I, personally, am convinced that it will, if only because one's face will look so much better.

Answer: a present later in the week

This superstition also contends that cutting one's nails on a Friday or a Sunday will bring bad luck to one's household: "Friday cut hair, Sunday cut horn, better that the cutter had never been born!"

Source: Author gretas

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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