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42 Lunar New Year trivia questions

Lunar New Year questions with answers and source links. Play them on the screen, or print a player sheet and the answer key.

42 questions · Lunar New Year trivia questions · answers included

Updated

Lunar New Year trivia questions

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Space shows the answer, then the next card. Arrow keys move. With scores on, keys 1 to 6 add a team point. F fills the screen. Escape closes play.

Questions 1–20

  1. 1

    Chinese New Year is also known as which festival?

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    Answer

    The Spring Festival, from its first day.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  2. 2

    Between which two dates does Chinese New Year fall?

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    Answer

    Between 21 January and 20 February, on a new moon.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  3. 3

    Which festival, on the 15th day of the year, ends the New Year season?

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    Answer

    The Lantern Festival, on the 15th day.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  4. 4

    What meal do families gather for on Chinese New Year's Eve?

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    Answer

    The reunion dinner.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  5. 5

    What does cleaning the house before the New Year symbolically sweep away?

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    Answer

    Ill fortune, to make way for good luck.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  6. 6

    In what are New Year money gifts given?

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    Answer

    Red envelopes.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  7. 7

    What decorations with wishes for good fortune go on doors and windows?

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    Answer

    Couplets, and red paper-cuts.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  8. 8

    In legend, which beast did the New Year customs scare away?

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    Answer

    The Nian, a mythical beast.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  9. 9

    Which color, with loud noises, was the Nian afraid of?

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    Answer

    Red, the color of the New Year.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  10. 10

    The Chinese word for "upside down" sounds nearly the same as which word, which is why the fu sign is hung upside down?

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    Answer

    Arrive, so good fortune arrives.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  11. 11

    Which round fruits, golden in color, are given for wealth?

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    Answer

    Oranges, tangerines and pomelos.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  12. 12

    What is the 40-day travel season around the New Year called?

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    Answer

    Chunyun, the world's largest annual migration.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  13. 13

    What is the Lunar New Year called in Vietnam?

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    Answer

    Tết, in Vietnamese.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  14. 14

    What is the Lunar New Year called in Korea?

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    Answer

    Seollal, in Korean.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  15. 15

    Under which dynasty, at the latest, did eating dumplings at the New Year become a tradition?

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    Answer

    The Ming dynasty, at the latest.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  16. 16

    During which dynasty was a new year celebration first recorded?

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    Answer

    The Han dynasty, 202 BC to 220 AD.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  17. 17

    Before firecrackers, what was burned to make loud bangs at New Year?

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    Answer

    Bamboo stems, later filled with gunpowder.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  18. 18

    In which dynasty was gunpowder invented?

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    Answer

    The Tang dynasty, then widely used under the Song.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  19. 19

    Why are brooms put away on the first day?

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    Answer

    Newly arrived good luck, so it cannot be swept away.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  20. 20

    Cutting hair at New Year is bad luck: the word for hair sounds like which word?

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    Answer

    Prosperity, fa in Chinese.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

Questions 21–40

  1. 21

    Which god's paper image is burned so he can report on the family?

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    Answer

    The Kitchen God, the recorder of family functions.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  2. 22

    To whom does the Kitchen God report?

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    Answer

    The Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  3. 23

    Which day of the New Year is the birthday of the Jade Emperor?

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    Answer

    The ninth day, of the New Year.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  4. 24

    The fifth day is the birthday of which god?

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    Answer

    The God of Wealth, Guan Yu.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  5. 25

    What is the seventh day, Renri?

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    Answer

    The common person's birthday, when everyone grows a year older.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  6. 26

    Which tossed raw fish salad is eaten on the seventh day in Malaysia and Singapore?

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    Answer

    Yusheng, for wealth and prosperity.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  7. 27

    What sweet rice balls in soup are eaten on the 15th day?

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    Answer

    Tangyuan, sweet glutinous rice balls.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  8. 28

    What is sometimes written on the lanterns of the Lantern Festival?

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    Answer

    Riddles, attached or written on them.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  9. 29

    At the Lantern Festival, what do single women write on mandarin oranges?

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    Answer

    Their contact numbers, before throwing them in a river or lake.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  10. 30

    In Mandarin, the word for red sounds like which word?

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    Answer

    Prosperous, which makes red lucky.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  11. 31

    The Chinese word for pomelo sounds like which words?

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    Answer

    To have, and again.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  12. 32

    What did messaging apps such as WeChat make popular in the 2010s?

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    Answer

    Red envelopes in a virtual format, sent by mobile payment.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  13. 33

    Should the bills inside a red envelope be old or new?

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    Answer

    New.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  14. 34

    Which flowers are usually not displayed at home at New Year?

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    Answer

    Chrysanthemums, except in lucky colors.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  15. 35

    What are New Year couplets in gold letters on red paper called?

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    Answer

    Chunlian, or fai chun.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  16. 36

    In which year did New York State make Lunar New Year a mandatory public school holiday?

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    Answer

    2023, in September.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  17. 37

    Which US state made Lunar New Year a state government holiday from 2023?

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    Answer

    California, signed into law in 2022.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  18. 38

    Which country is the only one in Africa with the Spring Festival as a statutory public holiday?

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    Answer

    Mauritius, the only one in Africa.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  19. 39

    Where is the oldest Chinatown in the world, a center of New Year celebrations?

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    Answer

    Binondo, in Manila.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  20. 40

    Which day of the New Year is known as "red mouth", an unlucky day for visiting?

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    Answer

    The third day, Chikou.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

Questions 41–42

  1. 41

    Which "year cakes" were given to relatives under the Yuan dynasty?

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    Answer

    Nian gao, year cakes.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

  2. 42

    Many families in China eat only one kind of food on the first day. Which kind?

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    Answer

    Vegetarian food, for good luck.

    Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1381780617

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