New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are marked by celebrations all over the world. Here is a quiz on some New Year’s traditions from various countries.
In England and Scotland, the custom of “first foot” is observed on New Year’s Day. What is “first foot” all about?
Auld Lang Syne”, which is traditionally sung at midnight in the US on New Year’s Eve, was popularized by bandleader Guy Lombardo and his orchestra. Who was the Scottish poet who wrote the words to “Auld Lang Syne”?
Some foods are traditionally eaten at the New Year because they are thought to bring good luck. In what country are doughnuts eaten on New Year’s Day to bring good fortune?
In what European country do people believe good luck comes from letting a drop of cream land on the floor on New Years Day?
There is a New Year’s Eve tradition in a certain country to burn effigies known as “Jack Straw”, a symbol of all the evil and misfortune of the past year. What country is this?
Where at the stroke of midnight do people eat 12 grapes to bring good luck for the next 12 months of the New Year?
In Denmark, people save a certain item throughout the year to throw on their friends doorsteps on New Years Eve. What is the item?
Many countries serve pork dishes on New Year’s Day for good luck. What is it about the pig that makes it a symbol of the New Year?
The Tournament of Roses, which takes place every year in Pasadena, California, features a parade and a football game. However, another sporting event replaced the football game in the early 1900s. What was it?
Here are the answers:
In England and Scotland, the “first-foot” is the first person to cross the doorstep of a home on New Year’s Day. The first foot is traditionally a tall, dark-haired man. A woman or a light haired man are sometimes regarded as unlucky. The first-foot usually brings gifts, which represent prosperity for the New Year.
The words to “Auld Lang Syne” were written by the poet Robert Burns in the late 1700s. The melody is from a traditional Scottish folk song. The title loosely translates to “days gone by”.
The Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a circle is good luck because the circle symbolizes the completion of the yearly cycle. The circle is also the symbol of infinity and eternity since it has no beginning or end.
In Switzerland, people believe it is good luck to let a drop of cream land on the floor on New Years Day. This symbolizes abundance in the New Year.
In Hungary on New Year’s Eve they burn effigies of a scapegoat known as “Jack Straw“ which represents the evils and misfortunes of the past year. “Jack Straw” is carried around the village before being burnt.
In Spain when the clock strikes midnight on December 31, the custom is to eat 12 grapes, one with each toll of the clock, to bring good luck for the New Year. Often, the grapes are washed down with wine. Everyone interrupts what they are doing to carry out this custom.
In Denmark, you may find your doorstep littered with a pile of broken dishes on New Years Day. Old dishes are saved all year to throw at your friends homes on New Years Eve. A pile of broken dishes means that you have many friends.
A pig roots forward to find food, in contrast to a cow, which stands still to graze, and a chicken, who scratches backward to feed. The pig going forward symbolizes going forward into the New Year.
In 1902, the Tournament of Roses added a football game to the New Year’s Day festivities. Stanford University played the University of Michigan. Stanford lost 49-0.. The Tournament gave up football in favor of Roman-style chariot races. In 1916, football returned to stay.
