Chinese New Year quiz questions for the Year of the Goat
Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in Chinese culture. The date moves with the lunar calendar: 2026's fell on 17th February and ran the Year of the Horse, and the next one lands on 6th February 2027, starting the Year of the Goat. Here are five questions to bring some festival knowledge to your quiz.
The questions
1How many animals are in the Chinese zodiac cycle?Use in quizUse
Answer:12(click to reveal)
The animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each year rotates through the cycle.
2What colour dominates Chinese New Year decorations, symbolising good fortune and joy?Use in quizUse
Answer:Red(click to reveal)
Red envelopes (hongbao) containing money are given as gifts, red lanterns hang everywhere, and red paper decorations adorn doorways. The colour is believed to ward off evil spirits.
3Chinese New Year celebrations last for 15 days. What festival marks the final night, featuring lanterns and often the year's first full moon?Use in quizUse
Answer:The Lantern Festival (Yuan Xiao Jie)(click to reveal)
Families display lanterns, solve riddles written on them, and eat sweet rice balls called tangyuan.
4According to legend, which mythical creature did the Chinese New Year traditions originally develop to scare away?Use in quizUse
Answer:Nian (a monster or beast)(click to reveal)
The story goes that Nian would come out on New Year's Eve to eat villagers and livestock. People discovered it feared loud noises, fire, and the colour red, hence the firecrackers, bonfires and red decorations.
5What action is traditionally avoided on Chinese New Year's Day because it might "sweep away" good luck?Use in quizUse
Answer:Sweeping or cleaning the house(click to reveal)
Cleaning is done before New Year's Eve to sweep away bad luck, but on the day itself, people avoid it to keep good fortune inside.
Gong xi fa cai! These questions make a nice addition to a general knowledge round during the Lunar New Year period.
Valentine's Day follows eight days later, so the Valentine's Day quiz questions can carry on the theme. You'll find every other date in our quiz calendar.
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