Mothers Quiz 2 Medium
- 21 questions
- about 25 minutes to run
- published 7 Aug 2025
- updated
1. In the UK, Mothering Sunday falls on which Sunday of Lent?
2. The name "Mothering Sunday" originally had nothing to do with mothers. What did people traditionally visit on that day?
3. Mothering Sunday is also known by a Latin name, from the first word of the traditional opening chant of the Mass. What is it?
4. Simnel cake, once eaten on Mothering Sunday and now at Easter, is decorated with how many marzipan balls?
5. In the US, Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. Which woman campaigned for it, and later fought against its commercialisation?
6. Which US president officially proclaimed the first national Mother's Day in 1914?
7. Which flower became the traditional symbol of the American Mother's Day?
8. On which Sunday is Muttertag, Mother's Day in Germany, celebrated?
9. In Mexico, Mother's Day is always held on the same date, whatever the day of the week. What date?
10. In Thailand, Mother's Day is celebrated on 12 August. Whose birthday is it?
11. In France, the Fête des Mères is usually held on which Sunday?
12. In Greek mythology, which Titaness was the mother of Zeus?
13. What is the official title of the painting usually called "Whistler's Mother"?
14. Which girl group had a number one in 1997 with "Mama", a double A-side with "Who Do You Think You Are"?
15. In "Pride and Prejudice", how many daughters does Mrs Bennet have?
16. In "Little Women", what do the March sisters call their mother?
17. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother died in 2002. How old was she?
18. In which city, now the capital of North Macedonia, was Mother Teresa born?
19. In which Yorkshire town can you visit Mother Shipton's Cave and its petrifying well?
20. Which Irish comedian plays Agnes Brown in "Mrs Brown's Boys"?
21. According to records, a Russian peasant woman in the 18th century gave birth to the most children ever recorded for one mother. How many?
ANSWERS
1. The fourth Sunday
It is three weeks before Easter Sunday, so it can fall anywhere from early March to early April.
2. Their "mother church" (the main church or cathedral of their area)
In later centuries, it became a day off for young servants to go home and visit their families, which is how it became linked with mothers.
3. Laetare Sunday (also known as Refreshment Sunday)
4. Eleven
They represent the apostles, leaving out Judas. Some bakers add a twelfth for Jesus.
5. Anna Jarvis
6. Woodrow Wilson
7. The carnation
Anna Jarvis chose the white carnation, her mother's favourite. Traditionally, red is worn for a living mother and white for one who has died.
8. The second Sunday in May
9. 10 May
10. Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother
11. The last Sunday in May
If it clashes with Pentecost, it moves to the first Sunday in June.
12. Rhea
13. Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1
14. The Spice Girls
15. Five
16. Marmee
17. 101
18. Skopje
19. Knaresborough
20. Brendan O'Carroll
21. 69 (the wife of Feodor Vassilyev)
The record is in Guinness World Records, but it comes from 18th-century reports that cannot be checked. She is said to have had 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets.
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