New Year Trivia

"AULD LANG SYNE" poem by Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

Refrain
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine meaning
But we've wander'd mony a weary fitt
Sin' auld lang syne.

Refrain

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine meaning
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.

Refrain

And there's a hand, my trusty feire
And gie's a hand o' thine
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught
For auld lang syne.

Refrain

New Year celebration dates back to…
1. 2000 BC in Babylonia.
2. 4000 BC in China.
3. 10 AD in Egypt.
New Year began…
1. with the first New Moon after the first day of spring.
2. on December, 25th with winter solstice.
3. on June, 24th with summer solstice.
The first to declare January,1st the beginning of the year...
1. the Romans in 153 BC.
2. the early Catholic Church in 567 AD.
3. the Babylonians in 1300 BC.
In the Middle Ages most European countries used the Julian calendar, so they observed New Year's Day...
1. on March, 25th.
2. on February, 14th.
3. on April,1st.
January, 1st has been celebrated as a holiday...
1. for the past 400 years.
2. since the Early Middle Ages.
3. since the 18th century.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun...
1. in Greece around 600 BC.
2. in Egypt around 3000 BC.
3. in Italy around the 5th century.
The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by …
1. the Germans.
2. the Pilgrims.
3. the English.
It is lucky to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year...
1. in the company of family and friends.
2. singing and eating a lot.
3. eating grappes.
Kissing at midnight is ...
1. to ensure that those affections will continue throughout the next twelve months.
2. to ensure that you will find a new love in the next twelve months.
3. to ensure that you will be loved throughout the next year.
When the clock announces the arrival of the New Year...
1. everyone stands around with arms linked to sing Auld Lang Syne.
2. everyone shouts and kisses.
3. everyone shakes hands.
The literal translation of the song's title Auld Lang Syne is...
1. Old Long Ago
2. Always Remembering You
3. Another Year Passes
In England First Footing is particularly lucky ...
1. if the first visitor happens to be a handsome, tall, dark-haired man.
2. if the first visitor is a blonde woman.
3. if the first visitor is a child.
This first visitor must bring...
1. a small piece of coal, money, bread, and salt.
2. a piece of wood, a silver box and a bottle of whisky.
3. a silver cross and a golden ring.
In Scotland, the New Year celebration is called...
1. Hogmanay.
2. Up-Helly-aa.
3. Burn's Night.
The most “well known” lucky dish for a New Year’s celebration...
1. black-eyed peas and cabbage (Hoppin' John) in the USA.
2. potatoes and cabbage (Bubble & Squeak) in the UK.
3. doughnuts (Oliebollen) in the Netherlands.
The flower symbol of January is...
1. the carnation.
2. the rose.
3. the chrysanthemum.
New Year's resolutions is an old tradition which comes from...
1. the Old Babylonians.
2. the Romans.
3. the Celts.
The most common New Year's resolution in 2007 was...
1. to stop smoking.
2. to save money and get debt free.
3. to eat right during the holidays and watch your weight.
In the USA, the most watched parade on New Year's Day is...
1. The Tournament of Roses Parade.
2. Hollywood Christmas Parade.
3. Walt Disney World's New Year's Parade.
January,1st 1927 is an important anniversary in England because...
1. the BBC began broadcasting its first programmes.
2. traffic policemen were introduced in Great Britain.
3. the London Credit Exchange Company issued the first traveler’s checks.