KS1 Britain | Festivals and Celebrations

History Quiz - Festivals and Celebrations in Britain 1 (Questions)

This quiz addresses the requirements of the National Curriculum KS1 History for children aged 5, 6 and 7 in years 1 and 2. Specifically this quiz is aimed at the section dealing with studying British festivals, traditions and celebrations.

A nation as wide and diverse as ours has a lot to celebrate. Some traditional British celebrations can be traced back over hundreds of years. Young children love traditions and celebrations and they may be familiar with many of our festivals, so studying them can be fun!

On the 25th of January, a famous Scotsman's life is celebrated. Who was he?

[ ]	James Scalds
[ ]	Robert Burns
[ ]	John Singe
[ ]	Donald Heat

Pancake Day signals the beginning of Lent. What name is it also known by?

[ ]	Shruve Monday
[ ]	Shrave Thursday
[ ]	Shrive Wednesday
[ ]	Shrove Tuesday

On one day of the year it is acceptable to play tricks and jokes on friends and family. When is this?

[ ]	May 2nd
[ ]	April 1st
[ ]	June 4th
[ ]	March 30th

St. George's Day is celebrated on the 23rd of April. What was St. George supposed to have done?

[ ]	Knitted a jumper
[ ]	Made a red cross
[ ]	Slayed a dragon
[ ]	Built a tall tower

The 21st of June is the Summer Solstice. What does this mean?

[ ]	The day and night are exactly the same length
[ ]	The shortest day and longest night in the year
[ ]	The hottest day of the year
[ ]	The longest day and shortest night in the year

Europe’s biggest street festival happens in July. Where does it take place?

[ ]	Edinburgh
[ ]	Notting Hill
[ ]	Cardiff
[ ]	Belfast

At the end of October things get a bit spooky! What do we celebrate?

[ ]	Christmas Eve
[ ]	Halloween
[ ]	Mother's Day
[ ]	The Edinburgh Festival

Why are bonfires lit on the 5th of November?

[ ]	Because it gets cold in November
[ ]	To get rid of all the rubbish from the garden
[ ]	To remember the Gunpower Plot and Guy Fawkes
[ ]	To light up the streets to save money on lighting

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, who do we remember?

[ ]	Members of the armed forces
[ ]	The King and his family
[ ]	All our politicians
[ ]	Pets around the country

10.

What is the day after Christmas Day called?

[ ]	Hitting Day
[ ]	Boxing Day
[ ]	Karate Day
[ ]	Fighting Day

History Quiz - Festivals and Celebrations in Britain 1 (Answers)

On the 25th of January, a famous Scotsman's life is celebrated. Who was he?

[ ]	James Scalds
[x]	Robert Burns
[ ]	John Singe
[ ]	Donald Heat

Many Scottish people hold a special supper (dinner) on Burns’ Night, a celebration of Robert Burns, with toasts and readings of his poetry

Pancake Day signals the beginning of Lent. What name is it also known by?

[ ]	Shruve Monday
[ ]	Shrave Thursday
[ ]	Shrive Wednesday
[x]	Shrove Tuesday

Lent is the traditional Christian period of fasting, which lasts for 40 days. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent, when households would traditionally use up their eggs, milk and sugar by making pancakes

On one day of the year it is acceptable to play tricks and jokes on friends and family. When is this?

[ ]	May 2nd
[x]	April 1st
[ ]	June 4th
[ ]	March 30th

This day is known as April Fool's Day. Even newspapers, TV and radio shows often feature fake stories on this day

St. George's Day is celebrated on the 23rd of April. What was St. George supposed to have done?

[ ]	Knitted a jumper
[ ]	Made a red cross
[x]	Slayed a dragon
[ ]	Built a tall tower

The legend is that St. George was a Roman soldier who killed a dragon to rescue a princess!

The 21st of June is the Summer Solstice. What does this mean?

[ ]	The day and night are exactly the same length
[ ]	The shortest day and longest night in the year
[ ]	The hottest day of the year
[x]	The longest day and shortest night in the year

Lots of people celebrate the solstice by watching the sunrise

Europe’s biggest street festival happens in July. Where does it take place?

[ ]	Edinburgh
[x]	Notting Hill
[ ]	Cardiff
[ ]	Belfast

It is called the Notting Hill Carnival. Around 1 million people go to see colourful floats and dancers in flamboyant costumes dance to music

At the end of October things get a bit spooky! What do we celebrate?

[ ]	Christmas Eve
[x]	Halloween
[ ]	Mother's Day
[ ]	The Edinburgh Festival

The modern way of celebrating Halloween is based on the Christian feast of All Hallows’ Eve and the Celtic festival of Samhain. Trick or treat?

Why are bonfires lit on the 5th of November?

[ ]	Because it gets cold in November
[ ]	To get rid of all the rubbish from the garden
[x]	To remember the Gunpower Plot and Guy Fawkes
[ ]	To light up the streets to save money on lighting

This date marks the anniversary of Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the House of Lords and assassinate King James I in 1605

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year, who do we remember?

[x]	Members of the armed forces
[ ]	The King and his family
[ ]	All our politicians
[ ]	Pets around the country

The Royal British Legion charity sells paper poppy flowers to raise funds for veterans and their families. The poppy is a symbol of Remembrance Day

10.

What is the day after Christmas Day called?

[ ]	Hitting Day
[x]	Boxing Day
[ ]	Karate Day
[ ]	Fighting Day

It’s believed to have been named after the ‘Christmas box’ of money or gifts which employers used to give to servants and tradesmen