74 Chinese New Year Trivia Questions with Answers

74 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?

Chinese New Year trivia covers the traditions, festivals, foods, parades, deities, and regional customs surrounding the Lunar New Year. Questions may explore the Laba Festival, including the garlic preserved in vinegar and the rice porridge traditionally served before New Year, as well as the calendar date on which Laba is observed.

The quiz also examines customs from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Players may need to know why the second day is associated with a deity’s birthday, what Chigou means, and why Chikou is called the “red mouth” day. This topic works well for family game nights, pub quizzes, cultural studies, and classroom activities about Chinese festivals and diaspora traditions.

Chinese New Year trivia — quick answers

What are good Chinese New Year trivia questions?

Good Chinese New Year questions include the festival’s calendar date, zodiac animals, reunion dinner foods, red envelopes, lion and dragon dances, the Laba Festival, New Year taboos, and regional celebrations. Questions about Chingay, Chikou, Laba garlic, and Singaporean or Malaysian parades add useful cultural variety.

How hard is Chinese New Year trivia?

Chinese New Year trivia ranges from easy to challenging. Familiar customs such as red envelopes, fireworks, and zodiac animals are accessible to most players. Questions about regional terminology, festival dates, deities, and less-known pre-New Year observances such as Laba require more specialized cultural knowledge.

What is Laba garlic?

Laba garlic is made by soaking garlic cloves in vinegar, traditionally until they turn green and develop a sharp, tangy flavor. It is associated with the Laba Festival, observed on the eighth day of the twelfth month in the traditional Chinese calendar. The garlic is commonly served around Chinese New Year.

What is served at the Laba Festival?

Laba porridge, or laba zhou, is the best-known food associated with the Laba Festival. It is a sweet or savory rice porridge prepared with a mixture of grains, beans, nuts, dried fruit, and other ingredients. Recipes vary by region and household, reflecting the festival’s agricultural and Buddhist associations.

What does Chikou mean during Chinese New Year?

Chikou literally means “red mouth” and refers to the third day of Chinese New Year in some traditional customs. It is considered an inauspicious day for social visits because arguments or disputes are thought more likely to occur. Families may stay home, avoid guests, or burn paper offerings to the God of Anger.

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