Holiday

101 New Year Trivia Questions for Any Time of the Year

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

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Great!

Playing trivia is not only a fantastic way for our family to bond but also a tremendous opportunity for personal growth. Trivia challenges help us learn countless fascinating facts!

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