STRAIGHT DRIVE #2

Here is todays question.

STRAIGHT DRIVE

Hello everyone, I am posting a question after a very long time. Now onwards question will be posted on daily basis. Try this one....

International monument from the Hindu Sunday Quiz

1. The Independent State of Samoa is a commonwealth country that has seen settlement for more than 3,500 years. 220 km to its east is American Samoa which is an unincorporated territory of the United States. People in Samoa are among the first in the world to celebrate New Year’s Day whereas citizens of American Samoa are among the last. The presence of what imaginary entity leads to this lag between the two Samoas?

 Answer: The International Date Line runs between the islands so 24 hours separate them.

2. In this country you literally ring in the New Year, as the tradition is to ring a bell 108 times. The ringing starts in the old year and finishes as the clock strikes midnight. This symbolises the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief and to get rid of the 108 worldly desires related to sense and feeling in every citizen. In which country would you witness and hear this tradition?

Answer: Japan

3. The very first major celebration of New Year is in this city. It is renowned for its fireworks which are synchronised to popular music and lighting. This display is called the ‘Bridge Effect’ due to the prominent bridge on which it takes place. Various symbols and other images related to a chosen theme are displayed on the bridge itself. The videos from this are the ones usually streamed first by news networks globally. Which city and what is the name of the bridge?

Answer: Sydney Harbour Bridge

4. In this country, traditionally a pie called ‘Vasilopita’ (King’s Pie) is baked. A coin wrapped in aluminium foil is put inside it. During the family dinner, the hostess puts some of her jewellery on a plate and places it on the side of the table, as a symbol of the coming year’s prosperity. At midnight, the families count down and then turn off all the lights and reopen their eyes to “enter the year with a new light.” Following this, the Vasilopita is cut and served. The person who gets the wrapped coin is the lucky person and is blessed for the rest of the year. In which country is this where the current economic status needs a lot of blessing?

Answer: Greece

5. Since 1939 this concert programme has remained pretty much unchanged and takes place every New Years day. Around 15 compositions are played and the second is Johann Strauss II’s waltz ‘The Blue Danube’, whose introduction is interrupted by applause of recognition and a New Year’s greeting from the conductor and orchestra to the audience. The final encore is Johann Strauss I’s ‘Radetzky March’, when the audience claps along under the conductor’s direction. In which city known for its musical heritage (and home of the Strauss family) does this take place?

Answer: Vienna

6. Legend has it that in 1909 the vineyard owners of this country wanted to cut down on the large production surplus they had had that year. So they started this tradition of ‘Las doce uvas de la suerte’ — The twelve grapes of luck — where everyone eats 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock. After the clock has struck 12, people greet one another with toast and champagne. In which country does this happen?

Answer: Spain

7. Since 1907, a 5,386 kg, 12-ft-wide Waterford crystal ball located on the roof of One __ ___ is lowered down a pole that is 70-ft-high, reaching the roof of the building 60 seconds later to signal the start of the New Year. It started off as an event to promote the status of the building as the new headquarters of the Times and is now a huge celebration involving live concerts and choreographed dances. Where does this celebration take place?

Answer: New York Times Square

8. In Scottish folklore the ‘quaaltagh’ (first-foot) is the most important person in Hogmanay (New Year) celebration. He or she is seen as a bringer of good fortune for the coming year. The quaaltagh usually brings a coin, some bread, salt and whisky which symbolise prosperity, warmth and good cheer. So who is the quaaltagh?

Answer: First person to set foot into the house after clock strikes 12 at midnight.

9. In Canada this tradition happens on New Year’s Day where thousands of participants plunge into a body of water despite the low temperature. These are usually held to raise money for a charitable organisation. They are known as ‘__ __ plunge’, named after an animal found in that part that plunges in to frigid waters in search of its prey. What is this activity known as?

Answer: Polar Bear Plunge

10. Hotaru no Hikari (‘Glow of a firefly’) is a Japanese song set to the tune of a Scottish folk song which is sung during New Year. The lyrics describe the hardships that a student endures in his relentless quest for knowledge, starting with the firefly’s light, which the student uses to study when he has no other light sources. It is commonly played at the end of school day, closing of malls and shows on New Year’s eve where it is sung as the last song. By what name do we know the tune which means ‘days gone by’ in Scottish?

Answer: Auld Lang Syne