New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular nights of the year to host a get together. Whether its just family or a gathering of friends, its the perfect opportunity to stir up some fun as a group. With money inevitably tight at the end of the holiday season, what better time than now to whip out this simple DIY New Year’s Eve Party Trivia Game.
I have done the homework on the trivia and put together free printable playing cards. I have even included a couple of blank playing card sheets should you like to add your own DIY New Year’s Eve Party Trivia humdingers. Have fun seeing who can correctly answer the questions first.
If you are pressed for time, you can grab the trivia cards right below. But if you can, be sure and stay around to test your New Year’s knowledge.
A Little New Year’s Eve History
- The earliest recorded New Year’s celebrations took place approximately 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. Unlike today, the festivities were generally held in March to coincide with the point in the year when equal amounts of sunlight and darkness were present (History Channel).
- New Year’s Day was first celebrated on January 1 under the rule of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar (Time).
- And speaking of Rome, January is named after Janus, the God of doors, gates, and beginnings. One of his faces looked forward and one backward (Oxford Dictionaries).
- Auld Lang Syne was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. The name refers to times gone by (CNN).
- Canadian singer Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadian Big Band are often credited with the song’s singing on New Year’s Eve. Lombardo ensured that the song was played on his popular radio and television shows from 1929 to 1977 (BBC News).
Present Day New Year’s Eve Revelry
- Samoa, Tongo, and Christmas Island are the first to welcome the New Year (Timeanddate.com).
- American Samoa and Baker Island are among the last to welcome the New Year (Timenaddate.com).
- Around the world, eating certain foods on New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day is considered lucky. These foods traditions include:
In Spain, eating 12 grapes as the clock chimes twelve times at midnight to signifying twelve lucky months ahead is encouraged (Food Republic).
In Greece, some households, after the stroke of midnight, have a family member roll a pomegranate against the door of the home hard enough to smash it. The number of seeds that scatter out of it indicate the amount of good luck in the coming year (Greek City Times).
In Italy, whipping up a bowl a lentils, which resemble little coins, for a meal is a prosperous start to the New Year (Martha Stewart).
In Japan, you would be wise to ring in the New Year with a bowl of soba “buckwheat” noodles (whats4eats).
In the Southern United States, consuming black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day are considered a must to get the New Year started off right (Bon Appétit).
- Ringing in the New Year in Times Square in New York City with the ball drop first began in 1907. The ball made its descent down a flagpole atop One Times Square (Times Square).
- The ball drop in Times Square did not happen only two times since then. Why? In 1942 and 1943, because of the World War II, “dimout” of lights in New York City, the colorful, bright tradition was not possible (Times Square).
- Some fun Times Square ball facts include that the ball weighs nearly 12 thousand pounds, is covered in Waterford Crystal triangles, and the ball is illuminated by more than 32,000 LED lights (TimesSquareball.net).
Drop Not Just The Mic
It is not just balls that have gotten dropped over the years to welcome in a new year. Other fun things to drop have included replicas of:
Acorn
Anchor
Beach Ball
Cheese Wedge
Chili Pepper
Disco Ball
Duck
Flea
French Fry
Golf Ball
Ice Cream Cake
Moon Pie
Peach
Pelican
Pickle
Pine Cone
Ping Pong Balls
Queen Conch Shell
Sardine
Sausage
(Mental Floss, USA Today, Wikipedia)
How did you fare with the New Year’s Eve trivia? Don’t forget before you go to grab your printables with cards for the DIY New Year’s Eve Party Trivia Game.
