65 Fun January Trivia Questions To Help You Celebrate The New Year (2024)

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As the confetti settles and the New Year begins, it’s the perfect time to kick off the year with a burst of trivia knowledge and quality time fun with your peers!

Whether you’re cozied up by the fireplace or battling the winter chill, we’ve got just the thing to warm up your brain: a fun handful of January trivia questions that span everything from celebrity birthdays to quirky holidays, important events, and all-around winter wonder!

Ever wondered which celebrities share their birthday with the crisp January air? We’ve got the scoop! Curious about the offbeat holidays that make January more than just a winter month? Brace yourself for some delightful surprises!

From historical milestones to pop culture gems, these trivia questions are your ticket to a January journey filled with laughter, facts, and maybe even a few “I didn’t know that!” moments.

Let the January celebrations begin, and may the random knowledge in your brain be ever in your favor!

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Before we get started — we invite you to bookmark or save some of these other trivia quizzes for later!

Table of Contents

January Trivia Questions To Help You Celebrate The New Year

Question: In astrology, what is the zodiac sign for those born from December 22 to January 19?

Answer: Capricorn

Question: What annual swim event involves brave and rather daring individuals taking a dip in icy cold water, often on New Year’s Day?

Answer: Polar Bear Plunge

Question: What is the name of the day that’s recognized as the most depressing day of the year and usually falls on the third Monday in January?

Answer: Blue Monday. The concept was first published in a 2005 press release from a UK travel company, which claimed to have calculated the date using an “equation”. It takes into account weather conditions and thus only applies to the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists have since then dismissed the idea as baseless pseudoscience, but it’s still a fun concept!

Question: What gemstone is associated with those born in January?

Answer: Garnet

Question: What color is a garnet?

Answer: Garnet gemstones are most commonly red, but they can be found in a range of other colors.

Question: How many days does the month of January have?

Answer: 31

Question: Can you name the 6 other months that have 31 days?

Answer: March, May, July, August, October, and December

Question: Which civil rights leader is honored on the third Monday of January?

Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.

Question: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year. What is the significance of this date?

Answer: It commemorates his birthday.

MLK - Juneteenth Black History Month Trivia

Question: What is the term for the period after the holidays when some people may feel a bit down or melancholic?

Answer: January Blues

Question: In the Northern Hemisphere, what astronomical event occurs around December 21-23, marking the shortest day and longest night?

Answer: Winter Solstice

Question: Which actress is known for her role in the TV series “Mad Men” and has the month in her name?

Answer: January Jones

Question: January is known as the coldest month in what hemisphere?

Answer: Northern Hemisphere

Question: What is the tradition of setting goals for self-improvement at the start of the year called?

Answer: New Year’s Resolutions

Question: Which food-related “holiday” is recognized throughout the whole month of January in the United States?

Answer: National Soup Month

Question: Which of these is NOT a celebration during the month of January?

a) National Wheat Bread Month
b) National Slow Cooking Month
c) National Sunday Supper Month

d) National Persimmon Month

Answer: d) National Persimmon Month

Question: Which of these quirky celebrations is celebrated on January 6th in the USA?

a) National Cake Day
b) National Cuddle Day
c) National Self-Love Day

d) National Houseplant Appreciation Day

Answer: c) National Cuddle Day. It falls on January 6 for a very important reason. Since January has some of the coldest temperatures of the year, it’s a great excuse to warm up by cuddling with those closest to you!

Question: If you are born December 22-January 19 you are considered a Capricorn. What is your Zodiac sign if you are born January 20-February 18?

Answer: Aquarius

Question: What season is in January for people in the Southern Hemisphere?

Answer: Summer

Question: In the western hemisphere, which of these is NOT in season in January?

a) Apples
b) Cherries

c) Avocados
d) Lemons

Answer: b) Cherries

Question: What are the three calendar winter months in the Northern Hemisphere?

Answer: December, January, February

Question: The word January is Latin and is named after what god?

Answer: Janus. Janus is typically portrayed as having two heads. He looks back on the previous year with one head and ahead towards the New Year with the other.

Question: What city translates as ‘River of January’?

Answer: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Question: What is the term for light, fluffy snow that falls in very cold conditions and is often associated with dry, light snowflakes?

Answer: Powder snow.

Question: When a snowstorm is accompanied by strong winds that cause blowing and drifting of snow, what is the meteorological term for this phenomenon?

Answer: Blizzard.

Question: What type of snow is formed when partially melted snowflakes freeze again before reaching the ground, creating small, rounded ice pellets?

Answer: Sleet.

Question: On January 1, 1892, which US island began as an immigration gateway?

Answer: Ellis Island.

Question: On what month and date in 45 BC did the Julian calendar takes effect for the first time?

Answer: January 1.

Question: What event, celebrated on January 26th, marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in Australia?

Answer: Australia Day

Question: In some regions, what temporary warm spell is experienced during the winter and is known as the ________?

Answer: January Thaw

Question: What cold-weather sporting event takes place once every four years in January, featuring competitions like skiing and ice hockey?

Answer: The Winter Olympics

Question: Where did the Winter Olympics take place in the year 2022?

Answer: Beijing, China

Question: Where will the Winter Olympics take place in the year 2026?

Answer: Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo

Question: What is the name of the day when people abstain from alcohol for the entire month of January?

Answer: Dry January

Question: What ceremony marks the beginning of award season for films and television and takes place in January?

a) Oscars

b) Golden Globes
c) Grammys
d) Tony Awards

Answer: b) Golden Globes

Question: Which of these celebrities were NOT born in the month of January?

a) Justin Timberlake

b) Usher
c) January Jones
d) Nicolas Cage

Answer: b) Usher – his birthday is in October.

Question: Which Indian festival, celebrated in January, marks the end of winter and the arrival of a new harvest?

Answer: Makar Sankranti. This occasion marks the transition of the sun from the zodiac of Sagittarius (dhanu) to Capricorn (makara).

Question: In Thailand, what’s the name of the Thai New Year’s festival that is celebrated in April and involves water fights and playful splashing?

Answer: Songkran

Question: Which of these celebrities is NOT a January baby?

a) Betty White
b) Ellen DeGeneres
c) Bradley Cooper

d) Miley Cyrus

Answer: d) Miley Cyrus – she’s a November baby!

Question: What is the name for the frosty, feathery ice crystals that can form on surfaces when water vapor freezes directly into ice without first becoming liquid?

Answer: Hoarfrost.

Question: Which type of snow is characterized by wet and sticky snowflakes that are often ideal for making snowmen and snowballs?

Answer: Packing snow.

Question: In which country is it a tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Answer: Spain.

Question: What is the Japanese New Year’s custom of “Hatsumode”?

Answer: The first shrine or temple visit of the year.

Question: Which South American country celebrates New Year’s Eve with the tradition of wearing colored underwear for good luck in the upcoming year?

Answer: Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, and other Latin countries.

Question: In which city is the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop hosted?

Answer: New York City, USA.

Question: What is the significance of the “First-Footing” tradition in Scotland?

Answer: The first person who enters a home after the stroke of midnight brings good fortune for the coming year. Per tradition, to ensure good luck for the house the first foot should be a dark-haired male, and he should bring with him symbolic pieces of coal, shortbread, salt, black bun and a wee dram of whisky.

Question: What traditional song is sung in the United States just before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Answer: Auld Lang Syne.

Question: What winter fruit is known for its bright red color, glossy appearance, and is often associated with Christmas decorations?

Answer: Cranberry.

Question: In which country did the tradition of making gingerbread houses originate?

Answer: Germany.

Question: What popular winter sport involves sliding headfirst down a narrow, twisting, and banked ice track in a small, flat-bottomed sled?

Answer: Skeleton.

Question: In the southern United States, what food is considered a symbol of good luck when eaten on New Year’s Day?

Answer: Black-eyed peas.

Question: What American city is famous for dropping a giant peach on New Year’s Eve?

Answer: Atlanta, Georgia.

Question: The Tournament of Roses Parade is a famous New Year’s Day event held in which city?

Answer: Pasadena, California.

Question: In which city in the world is the largest New Year’s Eve fireworks display held?

Answer: Sydney, Australia.

Question: What Asian country is known for ringing bells 108 times at Buddhist temples on New Year’s Eve?

Answer: Japan.

Question: Which iconic building in London is the focus of the New Year’s Eve fireworks display?

Answer: The London Eye.

Question: Which famous island in the Pacific is one of the first places to celebrate the New Year?

Answer: Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island.

Question: What holiday is celebrated on January 6th and marks the end of the Christmas season?

Answer: Epiphany.

Question: Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. In which city did this historic event take place?

Answer: Washington, D.C. (on the steps of Lincoln Memorial)

Question: Martin Luther King Jr. was a key figure in the American civil rights movement. What important legislative achievement is often associated with his advocacy and leadership?

Answer: The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination.

Question: What is the name of the winter festival celebrated in Japan, where participants carry torches made of straw to ward off evil spirits and pray for good fortune?

Answer: Setsubun.

Question: Which winter fruit is often used to make a warm and comforting beverage known as mulled wine?

Answer: Orange.

Best Trivia Games of 2024

Can’t get enough of the trivia goodness? Neither can we. If you’re looking for trivia games to play with friends/family, here are our favorite trivia board games on the market this year!