Try our Easter quiz!

There are four tricky questions related to spring and Easter below. The answers are at the bottom of the email - let us know how you get on!

1. During the peak of the Tulip mania period in 17th century Holland, a single tulip bulb could sell for:
a. Half the annual salary of a skilled craftsman?
b. Twice the annual salary of a skilled craftsman?
c. Over 10 times the annual salary of a skilled craftsman?

2. What is the Easter egg symbolic of?
a. Fragility?
b. Rebirth?
c. Indulgence?

3. Sunflowers are popular spring and summer flowers and they can grow very tall. The tallest Sunflower ever recorded was grown in Kaarst-Voorst in Germany. But how tall was it?
a. 5.64 meters?
b. 8.03 meters?
c. 25.39 meters?

4. Hot cross buns were banned from the school menu in four UK councils in 2003 to avoid offending children from non-Christian religions. When else have they been banned?
a. During the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, as they were seen as a symbol of Catholicism.
b. Straight after the Fire of London in 1666 as they are thought to have caused the great fire after a batch caught alight at the infamous Thomas Farriner bakery in Pudding Lane.
c. After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The cross on a hot cross bun was thought to resemble the Napoleonic coat of arms.

How did you do? See the answers below:
1. (c) During the Tulip mania years, the popularity of Tulips climbed so high that a single bulb would sell for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman.
2. (b) Easter eggs celebrate Easter and spring time, and the egg is widely used as a symbol of rebirth or resurrection.
3. (b) The tallest recorded Sunflower by the Guiness Book of Records was 8.03 meters. If you would like to see if you can grow a taller one, make sure that the plants are supported as they are growing, use a rich soil, make sure they are well watered and of course, Sunflowers like to grow in a sunny (but not too windy) location.
4. (a) During the Protestant Reformation in England, there were attempts to ban hot cross buns, but due to their popularity Elizabeth I passed a law still permitting their sale but only at Easter and Christmas.


The Arena Flowers Team.