At Dominican Carnival, what horned masked character carries an inflated bladder whip?
Answer
Diablo Cojuelo
80 Carnival Trivia Questions with Answers
80 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Carnival trivia travels across continents, exploring masked characters, music, costumes, rituals, parades, and regional traditions. This collection includes distinctive celebrations from the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America, from Dominican Carnival’s horned Diablo Cojuelo to Basel’s pre-dawn Morgestraich and the giant floats of Viareggio.
Questions also examine the sounds and symbols of Carnival: calypso competitions in Trinidad, goatskin drums and cowbells in Junkanoo, the paper masks of Binche’s Gilles, and the character whose burial closes Barranquilla Carnival. It suits geography and cultural-studies classrooms, world-culture game nights, travel fans, and pub-quiz teams ready for a colorful challenge that goes far beyond one country’s version of Carnival.
Which Italian Carnival is known for its giant papier-mache floats on the Tuscan coast?
Answer
Viareggio Carnival
Who won the first Calypso King contest in 1939?
Answer
Growling Tiger
Gilles at the Carnival of Binche wear costumes in which Belgian flag colors?
Answer
red, black and yellow
Which character's burial marks the end of Barranquilla Carnival?
Answer
Joselito Carnaval
Which Virgin is central to Oruro Carnival's Christian ritual?
Answer
Virgin of Socavón
Who first depicted Viareggio's Burlamacco mascot in 1931?
Answer
Uberto Bonetti
What is the official mascot of the Carnival of Viareggio?
Answer
Burlamacco
Which three Cologne Carnival figures make up the Dreigestirn?
Answer
Maiden, Prince and Peasant
What is the typical greeting during Cologne Carnival?
Answer
Kölle Alaaf
What is the first float of a Rio samba school called?
Answer
abre-alas
What is the opening group in a Rio samba-school parade called?
Answer
comissão de frente
Which architect designed Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome?
Answer
Oscar Niemeyer
Which snowman mascot first appeared at the Quebec Winter Carnival in 1955?
Answer
Bonhomme Carnaval
What is Barranquilla Carnival’s nocturnal pre-carnival parade called?
Answer
La Guacherna
Which Ash Wednesday event officially ends Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival?
Answer
Burial of the sardine
The Late Latin phrase “carne levare,” linked to Carnival’s name, means what?
Answer
remove meat
Which Christian holy day comes immediately after Mardi Gras?
Answer
Ash Wednesday
What does the French phrase “Mardi Gras” mean in English?
Answer
Fat Tuesday
What is burned during Patras Carnival's closing ceremony?
Answer
Carnival King
In 2000, Santa Cruz de Tenerife became headquarters of the FECC with what world carnival title?
Answer
Carnival Capital of the World
Viareggio Carnival floats are usually made from what material?
Answer
Paper-pulp
Which explorer named Point du Mardi Gras in 1699?
Answer
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
What parade opens Barranquilla Carnival on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday?
Answer
Battle of the Flowers
How long does Basel Carnival last?
Answer
72 hours
Which Recife carnival block is recognized by Guinness as the biggest carnival parade in the world?
Answer
Galo da Madrugada
What is the name of the first official samba school in Rio de Janeiro?
Answer
Deixa Falar
Carnival trivia — quick answers
What are good Carnival trivia questions?
Good Carnival trivia questions ask about famous festivals, masks, costumes, music, parade traditions, historic competitions, regional foods, symbolic characters, and the different ways communities in the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America mark the Carnival season.
How hard is Carnival trivia?
Carnival trivia is usually moderate to difficult because traditions vary widely by region. Famous festivals may be recognizable, but identifying local characters, instruments, costume materials, parade rituals, and historical winners requires broader world-culture knowledge.
What is the Diablo Cojuelo?
Diablo Cojuelo is a horned, mischievous masked character associated with Dominican Carnival. In many depictions, the character carries an inflated bladder whip, which is used as a comic prop during the celebrations.
What is Basel’s Morgestraich?
Morgestraich is the opening event of Basel Fasnacht, Switzerland’s major Carnival celebration. It begins at 4 a.m., when the city’s lights are switched off and illuminated lanterns and marching piccolos and drums lead the traditional procession.
What happens at the end of Barranquilla Carnival?
Barranquilla Carnival traditionally ends with the burial of Joselito Carnaval. The symbolic funeral marks the close of the festivities before the city returns to ordinary life and prepares for the next Carnival season.
What are the Gilles of Binche?
The Gilles are the best-known masked performers of Belgium’s Carnival of Binche. Their traditional costumes include distinctive wax masks worn in the morning, padded outfits in Belgian flag colors, and ceremonial performances accompanied by music and dancing.