Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Unusual New Year's
Traditions
1. What do you think letting a drop of cream land on the floor on New
Years Day in Switzerland means?
_________________________________________________
2. In Armenia, it was tradition for family members to exchange gifts at New Years.
However, it was considered bad if one certain family member gave a gift to another
family member. Which family member was not allowed to receive a gift from which other
family member?
______________________________________________________________________
3. What do Belgian farmers do to their animals on New Years?
________________________________________________
4. According to the custom of “first footing” in England, who should
be the first person to enter the front door of your house on New
Years?
______________________________________________________________________
5. Which religion does New Year involve spraying water on whomever one meets in the
street (regardless if they know them or not)?
______________________________________________________________________
6. What does it mean if you see a large amount of broken dishes heaped at
somebody’s door on New Year's day in Denmark?
___________________________________________________________
7. At midnight on New Year's Eve, the Spanish traditionally eat twelve of
something to bring luck for each of the next twelve months. What do they
eat?
______________________________________________________________________
1
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
8. In Romania, some people attempt to predict the coming year’s weather by reading what?
_____________________________________________________________
9. In Bolivia, 3 stones are often left outside the door at New Year's. What do
these 3 stones represent?
_____________________________________________________________
10. In Columbia, there are a series of traditions that must be carried out within 5
minutes of the start of the New Year. One of these is to run around the house, the
block, or up and down the stairs with a suitcase in your hand. What does this
mean the New Year will bring?
________________________________________________________________
11. In South America, the color of the underwear you are wearing while
bringing in the New Year can affect your fortune for the coming year. The
colors red, yellow, green, pink and white each have a different meaning.
What does each color mean?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
12. Why are tangerines given in pairs for the Chinese New Year?
_____________________________________________________________
13. On the third day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, why are people supposed to go to
bed early?
______________________________________________________________________
14. Traditionally, the first thing to do on the Chinese New Year is to pay homage to elder
living relatives, the Gods and one’s ancestors. In which order is this done?
______________________________________________________________________
15. In many different countries, something is often baked into cakes and
breads to bring prosperity into the New Year. What is put into these baked
goods?
_______________________________________________________________
2
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________________
16. Why are pigs a symbol of good luck in Germany?
________________________________________________________________
17. Why are chimney sweeps said to bring good luck?
________________________________________________
18. In this country, people set up chairs at a graveyard and
bring in the New Year with the dead. Which country is this?
_____________________________________________________
19. People in the Philippines eat round foods and wear polka dots at New
Years. Why do they do this?
_________________________________________________________
20. In Germany, what British television skit is watched on New Year’s
Eve?
___________________________________________________
21. What is the translation of “Auld Lanq Syne”? What does it mean?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3