“Our obsession for trivia has been part of popular culture for many decades and it’s easy to understand why,” according to an article posted on www.nationaltoday.com “Most of us are naturally competitive and social beings and trivia blends the two perfectly.”
How did the word trivia originate?
Trivia comes from the Latin trivialis meaning “found everywhere, commonplace,” according to the fine etymologists at www.merriam-webster.com. They also propose that “In ancient Rome, a trivium was an intersection of three roads (tri, “three” + vium, road). When people met at a trivium, what did they tend to do? According to the Romans, they would shoot the breeze and discuss trivialis (“inconsequential things”) – which eventually helped give trivia its modern meaning.”
Here are some trivial facts from www.greetingcardpoet.com and www.nationaltoday.com about, well, trivia:
- A couple of the first books about trivia published in the 1920s were “Trivialities: Bits of Information of Little Consequence” and “Ask Me Another.”
- In 1932, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” began printing fascinating facts and trivia.
- One of the first trivia games debuted on the 1940s radio program “Take It or Leave It.”
- In 1962, “The Match Game” TV game show began.
- “Jeopardy!” premiered in 1964.
- During the ‘60s, a trivia night craze swept across college campuses as social gatherings.
- The board game “Trivial Pursuit” hit the market in 1979.
- Robert L. Birch created National Trivia Day in 1980.
- Trivial leagues and competitions are located throughout the world.
- There are numerous factoid mobile apps like “Trivia Star” and “Trivia Crack.”
- One of the most popular sports to learn trivia about is baseball.
Now that you know National Trivia Day exists, here are some fun activities to celebrate:
- Host a trivia quiz night in your home or on Zoom.
- Quiz family and friends around the dinner table each.
- Use trivia questions at work as an ice breaker for meetings.
- Download a free mobile app and learn trivia on the go.