Traditions Around the World
What is the name of the traditional Georgian New Year’s tree made from dried hazelnut or walnut branches?
Chichilaki
What do you call the frozen, crystalline precipitation that falls from the sky and covers the ground in winter?
Snow
Which Roman leader introduced January 1 as New Year's Day?
Julius Caesar
Jingle all the way
Jingle All the Way is an idiomatic phrase used to indicate that one is in a rush.
What must you do at midnight in the post-USSR tradition to ensure your wish comes true?
Write a wish on paper, burn it, mix the ashes with champagne, and drink it.
In which country do people traditionally eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve?
In Spain, it is a tradition to eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve. This tradition is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for each month of the upcoming year. The grapes are usually eaten one by one, with each grape representing a month.
What is the name of the traditional warm holiday drink made with spices like cinnamon and cloves, and often sweetened with sugar or honey?
Mulled wine
What was the primary symbol of New Year’s celebrations in the USSR, introduced during the 1930s?
The New Year Tree
Lit up like a Christmas tree
To become very excited or be brightly illuminated
Why do people believe you shouldn’t do laundry or take out the trash on New Year’s Day?
It is believed to wash away or throw away good luck.
What country celebrates New Year’s Eve by smashing plates on their friends' doors?
In Denmark, smashing plates on friends' and neighbors' doors is a beloved New Year’s Eve tradition. It symbolizes friendship and good fortune for the year ahead. The more broken plates you find outside your door, the luckier you are thought to be.
What is the shiny, metallic decoration often hung on trees and used for festive embellishments?
Tinsel
What country is the first to celebrate the New Year each year?
Kiribati
Like turkeys voting for Christmas
This idiom is used when someone accepts a situation that will have a bad outcome for them. Turkeys are usually eaten for Christmas and if you think about it, turkeys wouldn’t be voting for Christmas in the first place because of this.
Why do many people around the world believe in keeping their homes clean before New Year’s Day?
It symbolizes starting the year fresh and sweeping out bad luck.
What color underwear is traditionally worn for good luck in Brazil on New Year's Eve?
In Brazil, wearing white underwear on New Year’s Eve symbolizes peace and purity, which are important wishes for the coming year. White is also associated with attracting good fortune and is part of a larger tradition where many Brazilians dress in all-white outfits to welcome the new year.
What is another word for "Christmas" in the United Kingdom?
Yule
Which historical period popularized January 1 as the start of the New Year across Europe?
The adoption of the Gregorian calendar during the 16th century.
Trim the tree
To decorate a Christmas tree with ornaments and lights.
Example: "We’ll trim the tree tonight while listening to carols."
Why do some people open windows and doors at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
To let the old year out and the new year in.
Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, but there's a unique tradition associated with it. What popular food do people often eat on Christmas in Japan?
KFC
What is the term for a small item given as a holiday treat, often placed in a hanging sock by the fireplace?
Stocking stuffer
Before adopting January 1, on which date did many European countries celebrate the New Year during the Middle Ages?
March 25
Under the weather
When you are “under the weather” it means you’re not feeling well. It can be anything from a cold, the flu.
What action at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve is believed to bring good luck for relationships in the coming year?
Kiss