NYE Meals in Countries
NYE Traditions in Countries
NYE in Films
NYE Characters
NYE Gifts
100

In the country of ____, families gather to make New Year’s Eve food—specifically tamales, which are corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese, and veggies all wrapped in husks.

What is Mexico?

100

On New Year's Eve, it's traditional for British households to gather waiting for the bells of __ __, the clocktower at the Houses of Parliament, to ring in the New Year as midnight strikes.

What is Big Ben?

100

In this romantic comedy, New York shines; Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal charm and delight, and The New Year's connection comes at the end during a New Year's Eve party.

What is "When Harry Met Sally"?

100

This character is a personification of the start of the New Year commonly seen in editorial cartoons. He symbolizes the "birth" of the next year and the "passing" of the prior year; in other words, a "rebirth".

Who is Baby New Year?

100

A bottle of _____ is the traditional modern gift and beverage to uncork at the midnight hour on New Year's Eve.

What is champagne?

200

The Spanish start off their new year by eating 12 of this fruit, which symbolize each strike of the clock. The tradition of las doce uvas de la suerte started in the late 19th century and is believed to ward off evil while boosting your chances of a prosperous and lucky new year.

What are grapes?

200

Greece is known as the birthplace of democracy and the Olympics. However, they are also known for hanging this eye watering vegetable___ outside of their door after church service on New Years Day.

What is an onion?

FYI:  The onion is believed to symbolize fertility and growth (thanks to its ability to sprout on its own).

200

This classic rom-com will have you running to the Empire State Building. In it, Sam Baldwin talks to his deceased wife on New Year’s Eve and seeks new love on Valentine’s Day.

What is Sleepless in Seattle?

200

Renee Zellweger’s character ___ ___ keeps a diary of a year of romantic misadventures. The movie begins and ends on New Year’s Eve.

Who is Bridget Jones?

200

Celebrated on the first lunar moon of the year, New Year is the biggest celebration of the year in China. Perhaps the most well-known Chinese New Year gift is the __ __ containing money. The color symbolizes luck and good wishes, while the money is to be used for treats.

What is a red envelope?

300

Japan eats ___ noodles to bring in the new year.

What are soba noodles?

FYI: The tradition dates back to the Kamakura period and is tied to a Buddhist temple giving out the noodles to the poor. Because the long thin noodles are firm yet easy to bite, it is believed eating them symbolizes a literal break away from the old year.

300

This specific color from the Italian flag is the color of their underwear on New Years Eve.

What is red?

FYI: In Italy, it's considered good luck to be wearing red undergarments as the ball drops. How and when this practice started is disputed.

300

This location is where Al Pacino planted the kiss of death on Fredo and tells him: “I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart.”

What is a party in Cuba?

300

This iconic character gets stood up on New Year’s Eve in the classic black and white film, "The Gold Rush".

Charlie Chaplin

300

Less wealthy English citizens traditionally gifted each other this citrus (___), pierced with cloves to flavor wine, or gloves for New Year's.

What are oranges?

400

This country eats pumpkin soup (soup joumou) because it was a delicacy that enslaved Black people were not allowed to have.

What is Haiti?

400

This country is known for their beaches, the Amazon, and soccer. So it makes sense that on New Years Eve ____ people usually go to the beach (since it’s the summer there). 

What is Brazil?

FYI: Immediately after midnight, you wear white and you’re supposed to jump seven waves while making seven wishes.

400

This movie came out in 1989—five years after the first one—and audiences delighted in seeing Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston back in action. The movie reaches its conclusion on New Year’s Eve, with a chorus of New Yorkers singing “Auld Lang Syne” in an attempt to defeat an evil spirit terrorizing the city.

What is Ghostbuster II?

400

This character is usually depicted as an elderly bearded man, sometimes with wings, dressed in a robe and carrying a scythe and an hourglass.

Who is Father Time?

400

This was given to kings and queens of England to celebrate New Years.

Jewels, gold, silks, and sweets were given to the kings and queens of England.

500

Kransekake, a traditional ringed cake often made with at least 18 layers, is eaten in both of these Scandinavian countries (____ / ____) on New Year’s Eve. The sugary layers, which look like cookies, are held together with a tasty royal icing.

What is Norway / Denmark?

500

___ has a tradition, called agüero. They place three potatoes under each family member’s bed—one peeled, one not, and the last one only partially. 

What is Columbia?

FYI: At midnight each person grabs for a potato with eyes closed and depending on the potato they select, can either expect a year of good fortune, financial struggle, or a mix of both.

500

This dystopian drama ____ is set on New Year's Eve 2031, after a failed global-warming experiment that leaves the entire world frozen. The only survivors are those who happened to be aboard the ____ (a train that circumnavigates the globe).

What is Snowpiercer?

500

In Greek mythology, for New Years, there was a tradition of placing an infant in a winnowing basket and hoisting the child skyward to represent the rebirth of ___.

Who is Dionysus?

500

The ancient Celts gave this sacred (typical Christmas) plant ___, at New Year's, to encourage romance, vitality and fertility in the coming year.

What is mistletoe?

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