National Trivia Day

National Trivia Day History

Celebrated annually on January 4th, National Trivia Day invites knowledge seekers from all corners of America to show off their smarts or simply learn something new. Perfectly situated after the holiday season, this day is dedicated to curious minds filling their mental reserves with abundant lesser-known facts, interesting tidbits, and fun pieces of trivia.

No definitive account records the originator behind National Trivia Day, but the term "trivia" itself originates from Latin and implies something of little importance. This term, however, gained a new prominence in the 20th century. The release of the board game "Trivial Pursuit" in the 1980s played a significant role in establishing trivia as a popular mainstream pastime in America.

Today, National Trivia Day celebrates both the obscure and the rousing, this day provides a perfect opportunity to engage in friendly competition, increase one's knowledge, and pique one's curiosity. Everyone from scholarly aficionados to everyday learners engages in trivia games at home, in local restaurants and bars, or online. This occasion gives a unique chance to appreciate the importance of all knowledge, no matter how trivial it might seem. This noteworthy day ensues every year on January 4th.

Facts about National Trivia Day

• It is believed that pub quizzes got their start in Britain and Ireland in the 1950s. Pub regulars would shout out answers in response to the game shows airing on TV. Pub owners became inspired to host their own live quiz shows in order to boost business on less busy nights. It’s said that as many as 500 teams were competing in Lancashire County, England.
• A trivia game that has been a part of everyone’s lives is Jeopardy! Jeopardy first debuted in 1964 and since then it has aired over 8,000 episodes. The first Jeopardy boardgames came out in the 1960’s.
• The most popular trivia game shows in 2024 were:
  1) Jeopardy
  2) The Floor
  3) Wheel of Fortune
  4) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
• The word trivia comes from the Latin trivialis, meaning found everywhere, or commonplace.

In the News and Trending for National Trivia Day

Top things to do for National Trivia Day

• Host a trivia night with friends. See who knows the most, or who’s well versed in a specific category.
• Attend trivia night at a bar or restaurant to see how knowledgeable you are. They may host different categories so catch one you feel confident about.