AIGAMELIB 1014 games, always one click away Find a game
Menu

Seven days of questions and answers

New Year Trivia Answers Archive

Review earlier daily rounds, reveal the correct answer, and use the short explanation to learn the fact behind each question. Page 9 of 12 covers seven completed UTC days.

Play today's quiz

Daily round

  1. What is an epoch in calendar terminology?

    Answer: A reference point from which time is counted

    An epoch is the chosen starting instant used by a chronological system.

  2. What is burned in parts of Ecuador at midnight to represent the old year?

    Answer: An effigy

    Ecuadorian año viejo traditions burn an effigy symbolizing the departing year.

  3. Which city stages a major New Year's Eve fireworks display around its harbour bridge and opera house?

    Answer: Sydney

    Sydney's harbour landmarks form the setting for its internationally recognized fireworks display.

  4. In which year did the first Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop take place?

    Answer: 1907

    The first Times Square ball was lowered to welcome 1908 on December 31, 1907.

  5. Which sprouted greens are commonly placed on a Nowruz haft-sin table?

    Answer: Sabzeh

    Sabzeh consists of sprouted wheat, barley, or lentils and symbolizes renewal.

Daily round

  1. What is the Scottish name for the final day of the old year and its celebrations?

    Answer: Hogmanay

    Hogmanay is the Scottish term for New Year's Eve and the surrounding festivities.

  2. What traditional object is lowered at midnight in Times Square?

    Answer: A ball

    A lighted ball descends a flagpole above Times Square as midnight approaches.

  3. Enkutatash is the New Year holiday of which country?

    Answer: Ethiopia

    Enkutatash marks the new year in Ethiopia's calendar tradition.

  4. Which sparkling wine must come from its namesake French region to use that protected name?

    Answer: Champagne

    Champagne is a protected regional name for sparkling wine from France's Champagne region.

  5. Approximately how long does Earth take to orbit the Sun once?

    Answer: 365.24 days

    Earth's tropical year is about 365.24 days, which is why leap-day adjustments are needed.

Daily round

  1. Which soup is traditionally eaten during Korean Seollal?

    Answer: Tteokguk

    Tteokguk is a Korean soup containing sliced rice cakes and is eaten for Seollal.

  2. The Polar Bear Plunge typically asks participants to do what?

    Answer: Enter cold water

    A Polar Bear Plunge is a festive group dip in cold open water, often held around New Year's Day.

  3. What is the Nowruz table of seven symbolic items called?

    Answer: Haft-sin

    Haft-sin is a display of seven items whose Persian names begin with the letter sin.

  4. What is the Sinhala and Tamil New Year commonly associated with in Sri Lanka?

    Answer: The Sun's transition into Aries

    Sri Lanka's April New Year is traditionally timed through an astrological transition of the Sun into Aries.

  5. What material must cover most visible surfaces of Rose Parade floats?

    Answer: Natural plant material

    Rose Parade rules require exposed float surfaces to be decorated with flowers or other natural materials.

Daily round

  1. What is the final month of the Gregorian calendar year?

    Answer: December

    December is the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian year.

  2. Which sticky rice cakes are traditional Japanese New Year foods?

    Answer: Mochi

    Mochi made from pounded glutinous rice is strongly associated with Japanese New Year meals.

  3. Which country celebrates Seollal as a major traditional holiday?

    Answer: South Korea

    Seollal is the Korean lunar New Year and a major holiday in South Korea.

  4. Which calendar has thirteen months, including a short final month called Pagumen?

    Answer: Ethiopian calendar

    The Ethiopian calendar uses twelve 30-day months plus the short month Pagumen.

  5. Losar is a New Year festival in which cultural tradition?

    Answer: Tibetan

    Losar is the Tibetan New Year and is observed across Tibetan Buddhist communities.

Daily round

  1. Which activity is famously associated with Songkran?

    Answer: Water splashing

    Public water splashing grew from Songkran practices of respectful cleansing and blessing.

  2. Which sweet rice balls are commonly served at the Lantern Festival?

    Answer: Tangyuan

    Tangyuan are round glutinous-rice dumplings whose shape symbolizes family unity.

  3. What causes the cycle of seasons experienced through a year?

    Answer: Earth's axial tilt

    Earth's tilted axis changes the angle and duration of sunlight as the planet orbits the Sun.

  4. Which flower is especially associated with Tết in northern Vietnam?

    Answer: Peach blossom

    Pink peach blossoms are a traditional Tết decoration in northern Vietnam.

  5. Which song is traditionally sung at midnight in many English-speaking New Year celebrations?

    Answer: Auld Lang Syne

    Auld Lang Syne is widely sung as the old year gives way to the new one.

Daily round

  1. Which season begins around the civil New Year in the Southern Hemisphere?

    Answer: Summer

    January falls in summer in the Southern Hemisphere because Earth's axial tilt reverses the seasonal pattern.

  2. Which legume is eaten in parts of the southern United States for New Year luck?

    Answer: Black-eyed peas

    Black-eyed peas are a customary New Year's food in parts of the American South.

  3. Which musical instrument is strongly associated with Hogmanay celebrations in Scotland?

    Answer: Bagpipes

    Bagpipes are a familiar musical feature of Scottish Hogmanay events.

  4. How many years make a millennium?

    Answer: 1,000

    A millennium is a period of one thousand years.

  5. Which date is added to the Gregorian calendar in a leap year?

    Answer: February 29

    Leap years add February 29 to keep the calendar aligned with Earth's orbit.

Daily round

  1. Which Chinese fruit is often displayed because its name sounds auspicious?

    Answer: Mandarin orange

    Mandarin oranges are exchanged and displayed because their names and color carry fortunate associations.

  2. Which clock tower's bell is commonly called Big Ben during London's New Year broadcasts?

    Answer: Elizabeth Tower

    Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell housed in Elizabeth Tower.

  3. What leafy vegetable often represents paper money in southern U.S. New Year meals?

    Answer: Collard greens

    Collard greens are linked symbolically with money because of their green, folded leaves.

  4. Which Pennsylvania city has marked New Year's Eve with a giant chocolate Kiss replica?

    Answer: Hershey

    Hershey, Pennsylvania, has used a large Kiss-shaped object as a local countdown symbol.

  5. The Islamic New Year begins with the first day of which month?

    Answer: Muharram

    Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar.