New years trivia
One quiz, 10 questions, answers explained as you play. More levels land here soon.
- 1 quiz
- 10 questions
- 1 level
- Printable list
Questions and answers — printable list
- In Spain, what do many people eat, one with each of the 12 midnight chimes, to welcome the new year?GrapesMany Spaniards eat one grape with each of the 12 chimes at midnight, each grape standing for a month of the coming year (Food Republic).
- Which U.S. president issued the final Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863?Abraham LincolnPresident Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, after a preliminary version in September 1862 (National Archives).
- Which immigration station opened on January 1, 1892, and processed more than 12 million people before closing in 1954?Ellis IslandEllis Island opened as a federal immigration station on January 1, 1892, and closed in 1954 after processing over 12 million immigrants (History.com).
- In which California city was the first Rose Parade held on January 1, 1890?PasadenaThe Valley Hunt Club staged the first Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1, 1890 (Visit Pasadena).
- Which major U.S. city hosts the Mummers Parade every New Year's Day?PhiladelphiaThe Mummers Parade is held in Philadelphia on New Year's Day (Library of Congress).
- Which Scottish poet said he took down the song "Auld Lang Syne" from an old man's singing?Robert BurnsRobert Burns said he had taken the song down from an old man's singing, according to Britannica.
- Which ancient people are credited with the earliest known New Year pledges, a practice about 4,000 years old?BabyloniansThe Babylonians are credited with the earliest known New Year pledges, promising their gods to return borrowed items and pay debts (National Geographic).
- Hogmanay, with its custom of first-footing, is the name for New Year's Eve celebrations in which country?ScotlandHogmanay is the Scottish New Year celebration, and first-footing is the custom of being the first person to enter a home after midnight (The Scotsman).
- In what year did the first New Year's Eve ball drop at Times Square in New York City?1907The first Times Square New Year's Eve ball dropped in 1907 from One Times Square (NYC Tourism).
- Which of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac is the only mythical one?DragonThe dragon is the only mythical animal among the twelve zodiac animals (Library of Congress).
Keep playing
Top scores
Most right answers first. Level pegging is broken by time. Only your best run on a quiz counts, so replaying it can improve your place but never stacks up.
Overall leaderboard →About the New Year's trivia quizzes
In September 1752, Britain and its American colonies moved from September 2 directly to September 14, because the Julian calendar had fallen 11 days behind the Gregorian one. That jump shows what New Year trivia is really about: a date that looks fixed but has been moved and argued over for centuries. Julius Caesar's reforms in 46 BCE kept January 1 as the start of the year, and Pope Gregory XIII restored it in 1582.
The 1 quizzes hold 10 questions between them. The easier level sticks to well-known traditions such as the Times Square ball and "Auld Lang Syne." The middle level moves to the Rose Parade, the Mummers Parade, Ellis Island and Hogmanay first-footing. The hardest level asks for exact details: the leap-year rules, the Emancipation Proclamation's timeline, the different Times Square balls and the 108 bell tolls of Joya no Kane.
Frequently asked questions
What is covered on this New Year's trivia page?
The questions cover the calendar changes behind January 1, American moments such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the opening of Ellis Island, the Times Square ball, the Rose Parade and the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, plus customs abroad like Scottish first-footing, Japan's bell ringing and Lunar New Year. Dates and numbers appear alongside customs.
How can I use these questions at a New Year's party?
Pick one theme and read the clues aloud, such as the Times Square ball and its changing versions, then move on to the Rose Parade. Dates trip people up most, especially when a holiday is observed on a different weekday or Lunar New Year shifts. Ask for guesses before revealing answers, and keep a running tally by team.
No made-up answers
Every question here was written from a named source and reviewed before it went live.