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New Year Trivia Quiz

Under which calendar is New Year’s Day Jan. 1?

1. Julian Calendar
2. Gregorian Calendar
3. Jewish Calendar
4. Chinese Calendar
5. All of the above

Answer B. Gregorian Calendar

What New Year’s gift did ancient Persians give?

1. Eggs
2. Money
3. Cakes
4. Rugs

Answer A. The ancient Persians gave New Year’s gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness.

In ancient Egypt what event dictated the timing of New Year’s celebrations?

1. Pharaoh’s birthday
2. Solar eclipse
3. Exact alignment of stars with Great Pyramid
4. Flooding of Nile

Answer D. In ancient Egypt, New Year was celebrated at the time the River Nile flooded, which was near the end of September. The flooding of the Nile was very important because without it, the people would not have been able to grow crops in the dry desert.

The name January is derived from the Roman god Janus. What is he the god of?

1. Wine and grapes
2. Babies and childbirth
3. Clocks and calendars
4. Gates and doors

Answer D. Gates and doors. The name of the month is derived from Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors, and hence of openings and beginnings.