Zodiac
Food
Traditions
Innovations
Countries
100

According to legend, this zodiac animal was the first to finish the great race.

What is the rat?

100

Often eaten at midnight on New Year's Eve, these savory, meat-and-vegetable stuffed dough pockets are folded to resemble ancient ingots to bring wealth in the new year.

What are dumplings?

100

Known as hóngbāo in Mandarin, lì xì in Vietnamese, and sebaetdon in Korean, these brightly colored packets filled with money are given to children to ward off evil spirits.

What is the red envelope?

100

Originally invented in 7th-century China to scare away the legendary beast Nian, these spectacular, brightly colored aerial displays are famously set off at midnight to ring in the new year.

What are fireworks?

100

The world's largest annual human migration, known as Chūnyùn, happens in this country as billions of people travel home for the Spring Festival.

What is China?

200

According to legend, this zodiac animal was the last to finish the great race.

What is the pig?

200

Often exchanged between hosts and guests, these bright citrus fruits are given in pairs because their color resembles gold.

What are oranges?

200

The traditional Lantern Festival always falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which perfectly coincides with this specific lunar phase.

What is the full moon?

200

Invented in China over 2,000 years ago, this essential material is the foundation for traditional red envelopes, window cutouts, and floating lanterns.

What is paper?

200

In this Southeast Asian nation, the holiday is known as Tết, and it is traditionally celebrated with peach blossoms and square sticky rice cakes called Bánh Chưng.

What is Vietnam?

300

This element is the fifth element of the zodiac including wood, fire, earth, and water.

What is metal?

300

Serving this animal whole, including the head and tail, symbolizes a good beginning and end to the year.

What are fish?

300

To mark the final night of the 15-day celebration, it is a widespread tradition to write complex riddles on the sides of these glowing paper objects.

What are lanterns?

300

First discovered by Chinese alchemists in the 9th century who were originally searching for an elixir of immortality, this volatile mixture is the core innovation behind all New Year's fireworks.

What is gunpowder?

300

This island nation is home to Binondo; established in 1594, it is the oldest Chinatown in the world and the epicenter of the country's New Year festivities.

What is the Philippines?

400

The fiercely independent Fire Horse only comes around once every 60 years. It last made an appearance in this year.

When is 1966?
400

Roasted to crispy perfection and often served with thin pancakes, scallions, and sweet bean sauce, this specific bird is a centerpiece of many festive banquets.

What is (Peking) duck?

400

This colorful parade performance features a long, flexible creature operated by 9+ dancers.

What is the dragon dance?

400

The very first firecrackers weren't made of paper and gunpowder, but were instead stalks of this fast-growing plant, which violently explode when the trapped air pockets inside are heated.

What is bamboo?

400

In this small island city-state, the River Hongbao festival dominates the Marina Bay area with massive, glowing lantern displays and carnival rides.

What is Singapore?

500

This animal replaces the rabbit in the Vietnamese zodiac.

What is the cat?

500

This deity, who resides where food is made, reports how each family is doing just days before the New Year's.

What is the Kitchen (Stove) God?

500

While doing this chore on New Year's Day is forbidden, families will do a massive amount of it in the days before the holiday to clear out the bad luck of the past year.

What is sweeping or cleaning?

500

To reduce air pollution and noise, many major modern cities have replaced traditional explosive fireworks with synchronized, computer-programmed swarms of these glowing, flying gadgets.

What are drones?

500

In this landlocked, mountainous nation, the Lunar New Year is known as Losar and is traditionally celebrated with archery competitions, which is also their national sport.

What is Bhutan?