40 New Year trivia questions
New Year questions with answers and source links. Play them on the screen, or print a player sheet and the answer key.
40 questions · New Year trivia questions · answers included
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- 1
In Spain, how many grapes do people eat at midnight on New Year's Eve?
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AnswerTwelve, one with each strike of the clock.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Grapes?oldid=1353442000
- 2
In the Spanish twelve-grape tradition, what does each grape stand for?
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AnswerOne of the coming twelve months.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Grapes?oldid=1353442000
- 3
In which Madrid square did the twelve-grape tradition start?
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AnswerThe Puerta del Sol.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Grapes?oldid=1353442000
- 4
On New Year's Eve, how many times do most Japanese Buddhist temples ring their bell?
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- 5
In Scottish folklore, what is the first person to enter a home on New Year's Day called?
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- 6
What is a first-foot believed to bring to a home?
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AnswerGood fortune for the coming year.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-foot?oldid=1352537383
- 7
What is the Scots word for the last day of the year?
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- 8
Which Scottish song is traditionally sung at midnight to say goodbye to the old year?
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AnswerAuld Lang Syne.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne?oldid=1378217057
- 9
Which poet wrote the words of Auld Lang Syne in 1788?
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- 10
What does auld lang syne roughly mean in standard English?
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AnswerOld long since, or days gone by.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne?oldid=1378217057
- 11
The month of January is named after which Roman god of gateways and beginnings?
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- 12
Which ancient people made New Year promises during a 12-day festival called Akitu?
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AnswerThe Babylonians.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_resolution?oldid=1336017312
- 13
In which year BC did Julius Caesar's new calendar take effect, starting on January 1?
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- 14
In what year did the Times Square New Year's Eve ball first descend?
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Answer1907.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 15
What materials formed the first Times Square ball?
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AnswerIron and wood.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 16
Which metalworker built the first ball?
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AnswerJacob Starr.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 17
Atop which building did the first ball descend?
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AnswerOne Times Square.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 18
What material replaced wrought iron in the 1955 ball?
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AnswerAluminum.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 19
During the 1980s, what fruit did the ball's red lights and green stem suggest?
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AnswerAn apple.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 20
Which two wartime years had no ball lowering?
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Answer1942 and 1943.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 21
What lighting technology marked the 2007 centennial ball?
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AnswerLED lighting.
Source: Times Square Alliance https://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye-history-times-square-ball
- 22
In which California city is the Rose Parade held on New Year's Day?
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- 23
Which college football game follows the Rose Parade in the afternoon?
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- 24
What are the Rose Parade's floats covered with?
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- 25
Who first organized the Times Square ball drop?
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AnswerAdolph Ochs, then owner of The New York Times.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square_Ball?oldid=1378168817
- 26
At what time does the Times Square ball start to descend?
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- 27
Since 1999–2000, which company has made the crystal panels on the Times Square ball?
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AnswerWaterford Crystal.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square_Ball?oldid=1378168817
- 28
Many Christians go to what kind of church service on New Year's Eve?
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AnswerA watchnight service.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Eve?oldid=1379937203
- 29
Which island country's Line Islands are among the first places to welcome the New Year?
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- 30
In Italy, what colour underwear is worn on New Year's Eve for good luck?
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- 31
In the Philippines, which shape on clothes and fruit is thought to attract money at New Year?
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AnswerCircles, such as polka dots.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Eve?oldid=1380766462
- 32
Which British comedy sketch has been shown on German television every New Year's Eve since 1972?
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AnswerDinner for One.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Eve?oldid=1380766462
- 33
In the southern United States, which dish of black-eyed peas and rice is eaten on New Year's Day for luck?
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- 34
What is hidden inside the Greek New Year's cake called vasilopita?
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AnswerA coin or trinket, for good luck.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasilopita?oldid=1369105321
- 35
Which Dutch doughnut is traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve?
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- 36
What is the first visit of the year to a Japanese shrine or temple called?
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- 37
Which Japanese New Year decoration is two round rice cakes topped with a bitter orange?
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- 38
In many Canadian communities, what icy New Year's Day tradition draws crowds into the water?
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AnswerThe polar bear swim.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear_plunge?oldid=1376636910
- 39
In the Chinese New Year legend, which beast was afraid of the colour red and loud noises?
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- 40
On the 15th day, which festival ends the Chinese New Year celebrations?
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AnswerThe Lantern Festival.
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year?oldid=1379525633
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