Chinese New Year Quiz

Quiz all about Chinese New Year. You'll find many of the answers on our Spring Festival page
1. What is the phase of the moon at Chinese New Year?
new
half
third quarter
garden, Foshan, Guangdong, architecture
Moon gate in Qinghui garden, Foshan city, Guangdong

2. Which event marks the traditional end of the Chinese New Year (Spring) festival?
Confucius' Birthday
Easter
Lantern Festival
festival, temple, lion dance
Traditional lion dance near a temple

3. What are the lucky numbers in a year of the Ox?
nine
four and one
seven and three
cat
Japanese lucky cat

4. Which color envelope is traditionally used for gifts of money?
green
yellow
red
God of Money, poster
Chinese Lunar New Year money god poster in Hong Kong. Image by Mk2010 available under a Creative Commons license

5. When is the next dragon astrological year?
2036
2031
2042
silk, dragon
Silk embroidery of Chinese dragon

6. Which day of the New Year festival should you give the family dog a treat?
2nd
8th
5th
Ming dynasty, Forbidden City, lion, Beijing
Gilded bronze, guardian xiezhi statue at Forbidden City, Beijing

7. Why are fish widely eaten at Chinese New Year?
Fish were the first creatures created
Fish in Chinese sounds like abundance
Fish keep away demons
taiwan, yin yang, fish
Window detail of Zushih Temple, Sansia, Taipei County, Taiwan. Aug. 2008. Image by Benjiho available under a Creative Commons License

8. Which Chinese god is given an offering a week prior to Chinese New Year?
Zao Jun - the Kitchen god
He-He - the Heavenly twins
Mi Le Fo - the Laugjhing buddha
deity, eight immortals, Shandong, Penglai
Statue of the Eight Immortals at Penglai Pavilion, Shandong

9. Why are oranges, tangerines and similar fruits are often seen at Chinese New Year?
Adds Vitamin C to diet
Wishes good luck
Keep away demons
orange
Dish of oranges, Hong Kong. Image by Fung Kimmia available under a Creative Commons License

10. The New Year greeting 'Gong hei fat choy' is in which language?
Japanese
Cantonese
Wu
lanterns, new year
Chinese New Year, Saigon, Vietnam. Image by falco available under a Creative Commons License

11. Which character for good fortune is widely seen at Chinese New Year?
fēi
festival, temple, lion dance
Traditional lion dance near a temple

12. What is a 'guotie'?
kitchen demon
lucky fish
fried dumpling (jiaozi)
food
Eating dimsum dumplings on the street in gongguan; pictures by tashenka. February 2007. Photo by brappy! from Gongguan Market in Zhongzheng available under a Creative Commons license .

13. Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) usually takes place in which month(s)?
January
February or March
January or February
red lantern, lantern, chinese new year, spring festival
Red lanterns are hung from the trees during the Chinese New Year celebrations in Ditan Park (Temple of Earth) in Beijing. Image by Paul Louis available under a Creative Commons License

14. What heralds the start of New Year's day?
phoenix dances
firecrackers
President's speech

15. Which astrological year follows the year of the snake?
monkey
sheep
horse
Hong Kong, zodiac, sculpture
The Garden of the Chinese Zodiac features twelve carved animals in the gardens of Kowloon Walled City Park, Hong Kong
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