Miha's trivia night

Front

What colour is most toilet paper in France?

Back

Pink

Answer explanation

Around the 1960’s, France started using recycled paper to manufacture their toilet paper. This resulted in a greyish paper, which wasn’t too pleasing on the eyes. Therefore, they had two choices – they could either bleach the paper white or dye it. Coloured toilet paper was “on trend” during the 60’s, and through the 70’s, so dying the paper wouldn’t have seemed like such an odd choice.

Front

Why was French King Louis XIX's reign so short?

Back

His father wanted to pass all his responsibilities to him

Answer explanation

Charles X saw that the revolution was inevitable. On August 2, 1830, he decided to abdicate the throne, but instead of ending the monarchy outright, he passed the crown to his son, Louis Antoine, now Louis XIX. As he knew the state of the country he abdicated 20 minutes later.

Front

When was the French revolution day?

Back

14 July 1789

Answer explanation

French revolutionaries didn't wear pants, sort of.

Revolutionaries were called "sans-culottes,". To distinguish themselves from the French nobility who wore the silk knee breeches called culottes, sans-culottes wore long trousers called pantalons that symbolized the working man.

Front

In the French vineyards, it's illegal to do what?

Back

Fly an UFO

Answer explanation

In the French town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape a bizarre bit of legislature ended up on the books in 1954 during the “space craze” that claimed it was illegal to park a flying saucer. The law was added as a publicity stunt to market the town to tourists, but the 70-year law has stuck. There are no records of infringements, but the decree still stands.

Front

In which region was ice-cream invented?

Back

Persia

Answer explanation

The origins of frozen desserts are obscure, although several accounts exist about their history. Some sources say the history of ice cream begins in Persia in 550 BC.

A Roman cookbook dating back to the 1st century includes recipes for sweet desserts that are sprinkled with snow, and there are Persian records from the 2nd century for sweetened drinks chilled with ice.

Front

What did the French actually invent? Reinforced concrete and Stapler, Cement and binoculars, Braille and the Cello, Hot air balloons and Submarines

Back

Reinforced concrete and Stapler

Answer explanation

Reinforced Concrete, the Stapler, the Binoculars, and Braille are indeed French inventions. The Cello is an Italian invention, the Hot air balloon was first flown by the Portuguese, the Submarine was invented by a Dutch engineer and the Modern Cement was invented by the British.

Front

What is the most hated building in Paris?

Back

Tour Montparnasse

Answer explanation

The tower's simple architecture, large proportions and monolithic appearance have been often criticized by Parisians for being out of place in Paris's landscape. As a result, two years after its completion the construction of buildings over seven storeys tall in the city centre was banned in Paris.

It is said as a joke among the Parisians, that the tower's observation deck enjoys the most beautiful view in all of Paris because it is the only place from which the tower cannot be seen.

Front

Why was Napoleon once attacked by a horde of bunnies?

Back

He ordered a grand rabbit hunt, but the rabbits fought back.

Answer explanation

https://justhistoryposts.com/2023/01/27/a-brief-moment-of-history-when-napoleon-took-on-rabbits/

The story is too long but basically my man was invited to hunt by his Chief of Staff to hunt. He got too excited that the emperor accepted and ordered too many rabbits and they rebelled.

Front

Which of these taxes actually existed in France? A tax for the number of animals outside of your house, A tax on doors and windows, A tax on the number of steps in front of your house, A tax for the number of animals inside of your house

Back

A tax on doors and windows

Answer explanation

More windows meant larger house and more prosperity, hence higher taxes. To circumvent this, people built large houses with few windows, many sealed them off, and some camouflaged them with paint. It was eventually abolished in 1926.