Question 1: Sydney is among the first places to celebrate the New Year each year. Which ancient civilization is believed to be the first to celebrate the occasion?
- Egypt
- Babylon
- Greece
Correct Answer: Babylon
Fact: The ancient Babylonians first celebrated the New Year about 4,000 years ago, though they marked the calendar change in late March. The Romans were the first to celebrate it on January 1.
Question 2: Which of the following celebrates the New Year before Australia?
- Japan
- Hawaii
- Tonga
Correct Answer: Tonga
Fact: Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati will greet 2023 first, followed by New Zealand and then Australia. Hawaii, on the other hand, is one of the last places to pop the champagne each year.
Question 3: What song is traditionally sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
- Auld Lang Syne
- The Times They Are a-Changin’
- Let’s Start the New Year Right
Correct Answer: Auld Lang Syne
Fact: Scottish poet Robert Burns' 1788 poem has been sung for centuries to celebrate the arrival of a new year.