| 100% | HOLIDAY | 7 | A UK vacation or day of rest, such as New Year's |
| 38% | ROSEPARADE | 10 | Annual New Year's Day spectacle ... and a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 36- and 49-Across |
| 36% | DAWN | 4 | Start of a new day or era |
| 36% | EVE | 3 | New Year's ___ (final day of the year) |
| 35% | LINKINGVERB | 11 | Word such as "be" ... or a punny description of the seven-letter word that can create new action words when its letters are inserted in the breaks of the circled action words |
| 35% | MMI | 3 | New millennium year, or a part of 20-, 37- and 49-Across |
| 35% | ROSEPETAL | 9 | Part of a parade float on New Year's Day |
| 35% | ALTERED | 7 | Modify something such as to change the size, shape or style of a dress (past) |
| 34% | HOAX | 4 | A fabricated event or piece of news, sometimes done as a practical joke |
| 34% | FIRSTDAY | 8 | Start of a school year or a new job (2 wds.) |
| 34% | SYMPTOM | 7 | Sign of illness, such as a runny nose or fever |
| 34% | SYMPTOM | 7 | Indication of sickness, such as sneezing or a runny nose |
| 34% | SUNDAY | 6 | Day of rest or church day |
| 34% | THREE | 5 | (3/5) Part of a New Year's countdown... or a trio's number |
| 33% | EVE | 3 | Night before an important event, such as New Year |
| 32% | BEAST | 5 | ___ of burden (animal such as a camel or yak) |
| 32% | BEAST | 5 | ___ of burden (animal such as a donkey or ox) |
| 32% | BOWL | 4 | Many a New Year's Day game |
| 32% | MODEL | 5 | Design of a car such as a Taurus or LEAF |
| 32% | CROP | 4 | Product of a farm, such as rice or broccoli |
| 32% | LANTERN | 7 | The final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations is also known as the Spring ___ Festival |
| 32% | BULB | 4 | Bottom of a plant such as a tulip or an onion |
| 32% | RING | 4 | Boxer's arena, or a New Year's tradition that announces the beginning of the New Year (with "in") |
| 32% | SPAN | 4 | Length or duration, as of a bird's wings |
| 32% | PICKUP | 6 | Learn, as a new skill ... or what can precede the ends of 20-, 36-, 42- and 59-Across |
| 31% | EVE | 3 | Day before Christmas or New Year's |
| 31% | SYNE | 4 | End of a New Year's classic |
| 31% | SYNE | 4 | End of a New Year's song |
| 31% | BADHABIT | 8 | Target of a New Year’s resolution |
| 31% | TEN | 3 | Start of a New Year's countdown |