New Year’s Eve is among the most important holidays in the world. Besides being an opportunity to try fun foods, imbibe beverages with friends, and party hard, it’s also a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to new beginnings.
But behind this annual tradition is a lengthy history of New Year lore. If you’re ready to test your knowledge of the last/first day of the year, take a peek at our New Year trivia questions and answers.
Whether you can recite “Auld Lang Syne” by heart and watch the ball drop every year or are an absolute New Year newbie, this is a New Year trivia question to surprise and enlighten you. Maybe by next year, you’ll be able to teach people a thing or two doing the yearly reverie!
Once you’re done with this quiz, you can continue to broaden your horizons. Check out these quizzes on Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.
Millennium Biltmore Hotel is in which city?
Boston
Los Angeles
Providence
Miami
In which city is the Orange Bowl game played in at New Year’s?
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
Jacksonville
President Harry S. Truman officially proclaimed the end of World War II on New Year’s Eve of which year?
1946
1944
1947
1945
What is the distance of the route of the Rose Parade?
2.5 miles
5.5 miles
3.5 miles
4.5 miles
Fireworks and ___ are the most important elements of New Year’s Eve for Indonesians?
Bongos
Guitars
Pianos
Trumpets
The New Year’s Four Hills Tournament takes place in which continent?
Asia
North America
Europe
South America
In Finland during the afternoon of New Year’s eve, a German comedy sketch is shown every year. What is it called?
Dinner for one
Breakfast for two
Lunch for three
Supper for four
In the ‘Mad Men’ New Year episode, why did Don took the boys for night out on the town?
Roger ordered them to
Harry was already drunk
Lane had split from his wife
Ken had been in a fight
New Year’s Eve is also the day of which saint?
Stephen
Silvester
Simon
Stuart
On which day of the week is the Rose Parade never held on?
Sunday
Wednesday
Monday
Friday
By the second week of January, roughly what percentage of American adults will have abandoned their resolutions?
0.05
0.1
0.5
0.25
In 1960 who covered Frank Loesser’s ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve’?
Ella Fitzgerald
King Curtis
Ramsey Lewis
Johnny Mathis
On New Year’s day in Belarus what is used to determine who will be next to marry?
A Rooster
A Coin
A Pig
A Dog
What is the more popular name for the Vietnamese New Year?
Tat
Tot
Tit
Tet
Chinese New Year’s Day itself was traditionally called ‘Yuandan’, what does this translate as?
The first sunrise
The first week
The first sun
The first day
What is the French term for ‘Happy New Year’?
Prosit Neujar
Non Appetit
En Effet
Bonne Annee
What do the children of Greece get filled with gifts at New Year’s?
Baskets
Hats
Socks
Shoes
In Brazil on the first day of the New Year they serve lentil soup or lentils and rice because lentil is believed to signify what?
Wealth
Luck
Health
Love
In which city is the New Year’s Capital One Bowl game played?
Orlando
Jacksonville
Tampa
Miami
How many triangles total are there on the Times Square Ball?
2433
2143
2688
2552
Members of which band featured on one of the Millennium stamps of Great Britain?
The Beatles
Queen
Pink Floyd
The Rolling Stones
After Chinese New Year what kind of dance is popular for the opening of businesses in Hong Kong and Macau?
Shadow Dance
Tap Dance
River Dance
Lion Dance
On Chinese New Year, red packets with money inside are given to unmarried juniors, the amount of money inside must be what?
Even
Odd
A multiple of 3
Over $4
In the Netherlands, towns do not organize a central fireworks display, except for ___?
Assen
Eindhoven
Rotterdam
Amsterdam
Just as Santa Claus is the mascot of Christmas, who is the mascot of New Year’s Eve?
New Year’s Girl
Baby New Year
Father Time
New Year’s Boy
Millennium Force is a roller coaster in which state?
Pennsylvania
Illinois
California
Ohio
In which culture do they toss coins around a pan as they march around the house on New Year’s day?
Norwegian
Philippines
French
Spanish
In 2011 the film ‘New Year’s Eve’ was released, which actor played Ingrid?
Michelle Pfeiffer
Halle Berry
Fiona Choi
Jessica Biel
The New Year’s Eve Saint Silvester Road Race is competed in which sport?
Driving
Cycling
Skateboarding
Running
In the ‘Frasier’ New Year episode Frasier and Niles drive to Sun Valley in a Winnebago, how does Niles break the law?
He streaks
He steals a Winnebago
He drives over the speed limit
He wastes police time
What is the most similar dance to the traditional Chinese New Year Lion Dance?
The Jaguar Dance
The Tiger Dance
The Dragon Dance
The Cheetah Dance
In Pakistan, on New Year’s eve the youth of Islamabad enjoy the evening by visiting restaurants in posh areas and what?
Night-Cricket
Mountain Climbing
Windsurfing
Bike-riding
Local clubs can compete in which of these categories in the mommers Parade?
Class Bands
Wood Bands
Big Bands
String Bands
To secure twelve happy months in the coming year, the Spanish eat twelve what at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
Mince Pies
Mints
Grapes
Strawberries
In which country is the New Year’s festival called Songkran celebrated?
Thailand
Japan
China
India
The Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon after what?
March 1st
December 31st
January 1st
The first day of Spring
Norwegians make rice pudding at New Year’s, what do they hide within it which guarantees wealth to the person who finds it?
A Grape
A Rabbit
A Coin
An Almond
In which country was a large selection of dinosaur fossils found on New Year’s Eve 2008?
USA
Brazil
China
Australia
In the ‘Seinfeld’ Millennium episode, Newman refuses to invite who to his Y2K party?
Elaine
George
Jerry
Kramer
In which state is Millennium Art Academy?
New York
Delaware
Maryland
Connecticut
In what year did both a blue moon and lunar eclipse appear on New Year’s Eve?
2007
2013
2009
2011
In Irish culture what do single women place under their pillow on New Year’s eve, hoping to catch their future husband?
Orange Peel
Roses
Coins
Mistletoe Leaves
On New Year’s Eve Bosnian children receive ___ from adults who are dressed as Djed Mraz?
Money
Gifts
Chocolate
Candy
In what year was the first Rose Parade?
1920
1890
1900
1910
On New Year’s Eve 1935, Charles Darrow patented which board game?
Monopoly
Candy Land
Scrabble
Trivial Pursuit
In past centuries, some Hungarians believed that animals were able to ____ on New Year’s Eve?
Dance
Celebrate
Speak
Sing
The main route of the Rose Parade follows which road?
San Fernando Road
Mulholland Drive
Colorado Boulevard
Vineland Avenue
On New Year what is laden with flowers, candles, jewelry and is pushed out to sea from Brazil’s Ipenama beach in Rio de Janeiro?
A yacht
A sacrificial boat
A lilo
A priest
In Russia, People try to start the new year without what?
Debts
Body Hair
Rats
Enemies
What do they eat 12 of on New Year’s in Spain>
Chocolates
Peanuts
Strawberries
Grapes
According to the Zodiac calendar 2014 is the year of which animal?
Monkey
Dragon
Rat
Horse
In which city is the New Year’s countdown done with an elevator?
Seattle
Boston
Detroit
Phoenix
What film takes place on the eve of the Millennium where Ralph Fiennes plays an ex-cop investigating a murder?
The Good Thief
Land of the Blind
The Constant Gardener
Strange Days
In which country is New Year the most important holiday of the year?
Australia
Canada
China
Japan
What did the ancient Persians give as gifts at New Year’s?
Milk
Flour
Eggs
Sugar
Part of the Hogmanay partying is to welcome friends and strangers, with warm hospitality and to wish everyone a ____ New Year?
Happy
Guid
Rich
Plentiful
In the Hillbrow neighborhood of Johannesburg, what do residents throw from their windows to cleanse their home for the New Year?
Rocks
Furniture and Appliances
Darts
Food
In which district of Los Angeles was there a 5 hour fire on New Year’s Eve 2011?
Beverly Hills
Larchmont
Fairfax
Hollywood
In which European capital was the Millennium Dome built?
Rome
Edinburgh
London
Paris
2013 became the year of what animal after the Chinese New Year?
Dragon
Horse
Bear
Snake
In the ‘Friends’ New Year episode ‘New Year’s Resolution’, Ross bets Chandler’s $50 to what?
not to eat dinner
not to make fun of anyone
not to smoke
not to be sarcastic
Guatemalans eat a ___ with each of the twelve chimes of the bell during the New Year countdown, while making a wish with each one?
Chili
Olive
Raisin
Grape
What film sees Woody Harrelson plan to rob the special car that holds the money collected by the subway on New Year’s Eve?
Heist Train
Money Train
New Year’s Heist
Subway Heist
The song ‘Auld Lang Syne’ was originally written by which poet?
Robert Burns
William Wordsworth
John Keats
Walter Scott
Chileans families celebrate the New Year by visiting what?
Hospitals
Brazil
Cemeteries
Beaches
What is the Chinese New Year often referred to as?
The Asian New Year
The Spring New Year
The Animal New Year
The Lunar New Year
On New Year’s Eve 1974, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nick joined which band?
Eagles
Led Zeppelin
The Who
Pink Floyd
January has been named after God Janus (Latin word for door), in the Roman calendar. Janus is the God with two what?
Noses
Faces
Heads
Mouths
What is buried in the Greek New Year’s sweet bread and thought to bring good luck?
A Spoon
A Coin
A Key
Chocolate
In ancient China for Chinese New Year, what was filled with gunpowder and burnt to create small explosions?
Pies
Lanterns
Pumpkins
Bamboo Stems
In Japan, New Year’s Eve is used to prepare for and welcome who?
Relatives
The New Year’s god
Friends
Jesus
Eating which of these foods are thought to bring prosperity?
Chicken
Ribs
Ham
Fish
The annual Tournament of Roses Parade floats are traditionally decorated with what?
Confetti
Oranges
Petals
Stars
What does ‘Auld Lang Syne’ literally translates as?
Old Long Since
Old Long Time
Old and Senile
Old Long Sausage
In Scotland the traditional New Year ceremony of yesteryear would involve people dressing up in____ and being hit by sticks?
The hides of cattle
Rabbit costumes
Grass Kilts
Tree Bark
The Koreans celebrate their New Year over the first how many days in January?
6
4
5
3
On which channel did the TV show Millennium originally air?
Fox
ABC
NBC
CBS
What event dictated the timing of New Year’s celebrations in ancient Egypt?
Flooding of the Nile
Royal birth
Death of a Pharaoh
Solar Eclipse
Feliz Ano Neuvo’ means Happy New Year in which language?
Portuguese
Spanish
Italian
Turkish
The Briar Woods High School marching band from Ashburn, Virginia preformed in the London New Year’s Day Parade in which year?
2000
2004
2007
2011
In 2011 the film ‘New Year’s Eve’ was released, which actor played Paul?
Zac Efron
Justin Bieber
Chris Hemsworth
Henry Cavill
In which city is the New Year’s Rose Bowl game played?
Pasadena
Anaheim
Sacramento
Oakland
In Colombia, what is the name of doll that is set on fire at New Year’s?
Mr. Old Year
Mr. Celebration
Mr. New Year
Mr. Year
Until which year did the British Empire and their American Colonies celebrate the New Year in March?
1752
1552
1852
1652
In Estonia, on New Year’s Eve, after eating dinner they should leave some food on their plates for who?
The cat
The dog
God
Ancestors and Spirits
In Jewish tradition, what is used to symbolize a sweet New Year?
Candy Apple
Iced Buns
Honey
Treacle
In Russia, New Year’s eve was celebrated heartily because ___ was banned by the Communist Party?
Christmas
Easter
Champagne
Fun
In which ancient city was New Year’s first celebrated?
Rome
Alexandra
Athens
Babylon
In ‘How I Met Your Mother’ the New Year’s episode ‘The Limo’, how many parties did the group go to?
6
7
4
5
In Denmark what do people throw at the doorsteps of family friends on New Years?
Dishes
Glass
Meat
Eggs
In what year did the TV show Millennium first air?
2000
2002
1996
1998
In Pakistan for New Year’s eve it is estimated that the elite class celebrate with the annual tradition of what?
Slingshot shooting from roofs
Egg throwing from roofs
Air rifle shooting from roofs
Stargazing from roofs
Making resolutions for the New Year is thought to have first started by the Babylonians, who made promises to what?
Earn the favor of the gods
Repent for their sins
Make friends
Earn respect from their elders
In Denmark on New Year’s eve it is tradition to have Kransekage, a special ____?
Whiskey
Champagne
Sausage
Desert
Throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods, January 1 was supposedly the day on which Jesus did what?
Was born
Was Crucified
Turned water into wine
Got Circumcised
The New Year’s festivities that originated in Babylon found their way to Rome. In honor of Saturn what did they name it?
Saturnium
Saturnity
Saturnalia
Saturnista
On New Year’s Day in Japan Children receive ‘Otoshidamas’, which are small gifts with what inside?
Jokes
Gold
Chocolate
Money
The Millennium Tower is in which US state?
Florida
Texas
New York
California
In 1977 who reached No.33 in the charts with ‘It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve’?
Stevie Wonder
Conway Twitty
Barry Manilow
Tom Jones
On New Years Day 1578, Pope Gregory Xlll signed a law forcing Jews to pay for a ‘House of Conversion’. What did this do?
Convert Water into Wine
Convert Jews to Christianity
Convert Bread into Toast
Convert Christians into Jews
In Greece on New Year’s Day children go door-to-door to ask for permission to do what?
Play Football
Sing Carols
Drink Milk
Eat Olives
You can do better
Not bad
Great!