Fill in the missing letters to complete New Year compound words using clues from the festive images.

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are given 6 compound words with missing letters. Each word is related to New Year, and there are pictures as clues (like fireworks, earmuffs, hourglass, stopwatch, clock, envelopes). We need to fill in the blanks to make real compound words.

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1. f _ r _ w _ _ k s

Clue: Fireworks picture → “fireworks”
Fill in: f i r e w o r k s
→ So missing letters: i, e, o, r

But we only need to write the full correct word for each line.

Wait — actually, looking at the boxes:

It’s split into two parts? Let’s check the structure.

Actually, each row has colored boxes — orange and blue — which probably represent the two parts of the compound word.

For example, #1:
Orange: f _ r _ → likely “fire”
Blue: w _ _ k s → likely “works”

So compound word = fire + works = fireworks ✔

So let’s do each one like that.

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#1: f _ r _ | w _ _ k s

First part: f _ r _ → must be “fire” → so fill i, e
Second part: w _ _ k s → must be “works” → fill o, r

Full word: fireworks

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#2: e _ _ r m | _ f f _

Clue: Earmuffs picture → “earmuffs”

First part: e _ _ r m → “earm” → needs a, u? Wait — “earmuffs” is ear + muffs

Wait — maybe it’s “ear” + “muffs”

But here it’s written as: e _ _ r m | _ f f _

That doesn’t match “ear” + “muffs”

Wait — perhaps it’s “earm” + “uffs”? That doesn’t make sense.

Alternative: Maybe it’s “ear” + “muffs”, but the boxing is off?

Look again:

Row 2: [e][ ][ ][r][m] | [ ][f][f][ ]

That’s 5 boxes then 4 boxes.

“earmuffs” has 8 letters: e-a-r-m-u-f-f-s

So if first part is 5 letters: e _ _ r m → could be “earm” plus something? No.

Wait — maybe it’s “ear” + “muffs”, but they grouped “earm” together? That seems odd.

Perhaps typo in my thinking.

Another idea: Maybe it’s “ear” + “muffs”, but the puzzle splits after “m”? Let’s count positions.

Position: 1:e, 2:?, 3:?, 4:r, 5:m | 6:?, 7:f, 8:f, 9:?

“earmuffs” is 8 letters: e,a,r,m,u,f,f,s — that’s 8.

But here we have 5 + 4 = 9 boxes? Wait no:

Looking back at image description:

Row 2: e _ _ r m | _ f f _ → that’s 5 boxes on left, 4 on right? But “earmuffs” is 8 letters.

Wait — perhaps I miscounted.

Let me list:

Box 1: e
Box 2: ?
Box 3: ?
Box 4: r
Box 5: m
Then separator
Box 6: ?
Box 7: f
Box 8: f
Box 9: ?

That’s 9 boxes total? But “earmuffs” is 8 letters.

Unless... maybe it’s “ear” + “muffs”, and the “m” is shared? Unlikely.

Wait — perhaps it’s “earm” + “uffs” — but “earm” isn’t a word.

Another thought: Maybe it’s “ear” + “muffs”, and the puzzle has a mistake? Or I’m misreading.

Let’s look at the clue: earmuffs picture → definitely “earmuffs”

Letters: E-A-R-M-U-F-F-S → 8 letters.

In the puzzle, row 2 has:

[ e ] [ ] [ ] [ r ] [ m ] [ ] [ f ] [ f ] [ ]

That’s 5 + 4 = 9 slots? But 8 letters needed.

Unless the last box is not used? Or perhaps it’s 4+4?

Wait — looking back at user’s text:

"2 e _ _ r m _ f f _"

Ah! In the original message, it's written as:

"2 e _ _ r m _ f f _"

Which might mean: e, blank, blank, r, m, blank, f, f, blank — that’s 9 characters.

But “earmuffs” is 8 letters. Unless it’s “earmuffs” with an extra letter? No.

Perhaps it’s “ear” + “muffs”, and the “m” is in the first part, so:

First part: e _ _ r m → should be “earm” — but that’s not standard.

Wait — maybe it’s “ear” and “muffs”, but the puzzle groups “earm” as first part? That doesn't help.

Another idea: Perhaps the word is “earmuffs”, and the blanks are:

Position 1: e
2: a
3: r? But position 4 is r already — conflict.

Let’s index:

Assume the sequence is: pos1=e, pos2=?, pos3=?, pos4=r, pos5=m, pos6=?, pos7=f, pos8=f, pos9=?

For “earmuffs”: e,a,r,m,u,f,f,s — so:

pos1=e ✓
pos2=a
pos3=r — but pos4 is also r? Conflict.

Unless the word is spelled differently? No.

Perhaps it’s “ear-muffs” and the hyphen is ignored, but still 8 letters.

I think there might be a misalignment in how I'm reading the boxes.

Let me try a different approach. Look at other rows for pattern.

Row 3: p _ _ t | c _ r d → clue: hourglass? Or time-related? Hourglass is for time, but “part card”? Not making sense.

Clue for row 3 is hourglass? In the image description, row 3 has hourglass? Let's see:

From user's initial description:

After row 2: earmuffs picture
Row 3: hourglass? User said: "3 p _ _ t c _ r d" and then "hourglass" is mentioned later? Let's read carefully.

User wrote:

"3 p _ _ t c _ r d" and then "4 _ _ u r _ _ _ s s" with hourglass next to it? Actually, in the text:

"3 p _ _ t c _ r d
4 _ _ u r _ _ _ s s [hourglass]"

And "5 c o _ _ t d o _ _ [stopwatch]"

"6 m _ _ n _ g _ t [clock]"

Also, bottom has clock, envelopes, fireworks.

For row 3: p _ _ t c _ r d — with what clue? The hourglass is next to row 4, according to text.

Let's list clues from user's message:

- Row 1: fireworks (implied by "fireworks" and picture)
- Row 2: earmuffs (picture described)
- Row 3: ? — user didn't specify, but in image, probably related to time or new year
- Row 4: hourglass (mentioned after row 4)
- Row 5: stopwatch (after row 5)
- Row 6: clock (after row 6)

Also, bottom has clock, envelopes, fireworks — so envelopes might be for row 5 or 6.

Row 5: c o _ _ t d o _ _ — with stopwatch clue? Stopwatch is for time, but "co__tdo__" — could be "countdown"?

"countdown" is c-o-u-n-t-d-o-w-n — 9 letters.

Row 5: c o _ _ t d o _ _ — that's 9 positions: 1:c,2:o,3:?,4:?,5:t,6:d,7:o,8:?,9:?

"countdown": c,o,u,n,t,d,o,w,n — so:

pos3=u, pos4=n, pos8=w, pos9=n

Yes! So "countdown"

And clue is stopwatch, which makes sense for countdown to new year.

Similarly, row 6: m _ _ n _ g _ t — with clock clue.

"midnight" — m-i-d-n-i-g-h-t — 8 letters.

Row 6: m _ _ n _ g _ t — positions: 1:m,2:?,3:?,4:n,5:?,6:g,7:?,8:t

"midnight": m,i,d,n,i,g,h,t — so:

pos2=i, pos3=d, pos5=i, pos7=h

Yes.

Now row 4: _ _ u r _ _ _ s s — with hourglass clue.

Hourglass measures time, so perhaps "hourglass" itself? But "hourglass" is h-o-u-r-g-l-a-s-s — 9 letters.

Row 4: _ _ u r _ _ _ s s — that's 9 positions: 1:?,2:?,3:u,4:r,5:?,6:?,7:?,8:s,9:s

"hourglass": h,o,u,r,g,l,a,s,s — so:

pos1=h, pos2=o, pos5=g, pos6=l, pos7=a

Yes! So "hourglass"

But "hourglass" is one word, not compound? Well, it can be considered as "hour" + "glass", which is compound.

Perfect.

Now row 3: p _ _ t c _ r d — what clue? In the image, probably the envelopes or something, but user didn't specify. From context, new year compound words.

"postcard"? p-o-s-t-c-a-r-d — 8 letters.

Row 3: p _ _ t c _ r d — positions: 1:p,2:?,3:?,4:t,5:c,6:?,7:r,8:d

"postcard": p,o,s,t,c,a,r,d — so:

pos2=o, pos3=s, pos6=a

Yes! And postcards are sent for new year greetings.

Clue might be envelopes at bottom.

Now row 2: e _ _ r m _ f f _ — with earmuffs clue.

"earmuffs" — e-a-r-m-u-f-f-s — 8 letters.

But row has 9 positions? Let's count the underscores.

User wrote: "2 e _ _ r m _ f f _"

That's: e, _, _, r, m, _, f, f, _ — so 9 characters.

But "earmuffs" is 8 letters. Unless it's "ear muffs" with space, but still 8 letters.

Perhaps it's "earmuffs" and the last underscore is a mistake, or perhaps it's 8 boxes.

Maybe the formatting is off. In many such puzzles, "earmuffs" would be split as "ear" and "muffs", but here it's written with 5 letters before separator?

Another possibility: perhaps it's "ear" + "muffs", and the "m" is the start of second part, but in the puzzle, it's included in first part.

Let's assume the word is "earmuffs", and the blanks are:

Positions: 1:e, 2:a, 3:r, 4:m, 5:u, 6:f, 7:f, 8:s — but in the puzzle, position 4 is r, position 5 is m, which matches if we have e,a,r,m for first four, but then position 3 is blank, position 4 is r — so if pos3 is r, but "earmuffs" has r at position 3.

Standard spelling: E(1), A(2), R(3), M(4), U(5), F(6), F(7), S(8)

In puzzle row 2: pos1=e, pos2=?, pos3=?, pos4=r, pos5=m, pos6=?, pos7=f, pos8=f, pos9=?

So for "earmuffs", pos3 should be R, but in puzzle pos4 is R — so offset.

Unless the puzzle has pos1=e, pos2=a, pos3=r, but then pos4 is given as r — conflict.

Perhaps it's "ear" and "muffs", and the puzzle intends:

First part: e _ _ → "ear" so pos2=a, pos3=r

But in the text, it's "e _ _ r m" — which suggests pos4 is r, pos5 is m.

So if first part is "earm", then it's not standard.

Another idea: perhaps it's "ear-muffs" and the hyphen is not counted, but still.

Let's look for common compound words for new year with earmuffs.

Perhaps it's "ear warmers" but that's not matching.

Or "headphones" but not.

I think there might be a typo in my interpretation.

Let's check online or standard puzzles.

Perhaps for row 2, it's "earmuffs" and the boxes are:

[ e ] [ a ] [ r ] [ m ] [ u ] [ f ] [ f ] [ s ] — but that's 8, and user has 9 with an extra blank.

In the user's message: "2 e _ _ r m _ f f _" — let's count the characters between spaces.

"e _ _ r m _ f f _" — that's 9 items: e, blank, blank, r, m, blank, f, f, blank.

But "earmuffs" has 8 letters. Unless the last blank is for 's', and it's 8 letters with 9 boxes? No.

Perhaps the word is "earmuffs" and the first part is "ear" (3 letters), but here it's shown as 5 boxes for first part? In the initial description, for row 1, it's "f _ r _ w _ _ k s" which is 4 + 5 = 9 boxes for "fireworks" (9 letters: f-i-r-e-w-o-r-k-s).

"fireworks" is 9 letters: f,i,r,e,w,o,r,k,s — yes.

Similarly, "earmuffs" is 8 letters, but perhaps in this puzzle, it's considered as 9 with a different spelling? Unlikely.

Another possibility: "ear muffs" with space, but still 8 characters.

Let's calculate the number of letters in each word.

Row 1: fireworks - 9 letters, and boxes: f _ r _ w _ _ k s — that's 9 positions: 1:f,2:_,3:r,4:_,5:w,6:_,7:_,8:k,9:s — and "fireworks" fits: f,i,r,e,w,o,r,k,s — so pos2=i, pos4=e, pos6=o, pos7=r

Yes.

Row 2: e _ _ r m _ f f _ — 9 positions.

What 9-letter word related to earmuffs? "Earmuff" is 7, "earmuffs" is 8.

Perhaps "ear protectors" but too long.

Another idea: perhaps it's "ear warmers" — e-a-r-w-a-r-m-e-r-s — 10 letters.

Not matching.

Perhaps it's "headsets" but not.

Let's think of new year compound words.

Perhaps for row 2, it's "new year" but not matching the letters.

Another thought: the clue is earmuffs, but the word might be "winter gear" or something, but not matching.

Perhaps it's "ear" + "muffs", and the puzzle has "earm" as first part by mistake, but we have to fill based on common knowledge.

Let's assume that "earmuffs" is intended, and the blanks are:

Pos1: e
Pos2: a
Pos3: r — but in the puzzle, pos4 is r, so if pos3 is r, then pos4 is also r? Conflict.

Unless the puzzle has pos1=e, pos2= , pos3= , pos4=r, pos5=m, etc., and for "earmuffs", pos3 should be r, but it's given as blank, and pos4 is r, so perhaps pos3 is not r.

I think I found the issue.

In "earmuffs", the 'r' is the third letter, but in the puzzle, the fourth box is 'r', so perhaps the word is different.

Let's look at row 3: p _ _ t c _ r d — 8 positions? p,_,_,t,c,_,r,d — that's 8.

"postcard" is 8 letters: p,o,s,t,c,a,r,d — so pos2=o, pos3=s, pos6=a

Good.

Row 4: _ _ u r _ _ _ s s — 9 positions, "hourglass" is 9 letters: h,o,u,r,g,l,a,s,s — so pos1=h, pos2=o, pos5=g, pos6=l, pos7=a

Good.

Row 5: c o _ _ t d o _ _ — 9 positions, "countdown" is 9 letters: c,o,u,n,t,d,o,w,n — so pos3=u, pos4=n, pos8=w, pos9=n

Good.

Row 6: m _ _ n _ g _ t — 8 positions? m,_,_,n,_,g,_,t — that's 8.

"midnight" is 8 letters: m,i,d,n,i,g,h,t — so pos2=i, pos3=d, pos5=i, pos7=h

Good.

Now row 2: e _ _ r m _ f f _ — 9 positions.

What 9-letter word starts with e, has r at position 4, m at 5, f at 7 and 8, and ends with s or something.

"earmuffs" is 8, so perhaps it's "earmuffed" but that's past tense, not common.

Another idea: perhaps it's "ear muffs" and the space is not counted, but still 8 letters.

Perhaps the word is "headphones" but doesn't match.

Let's consider that "earmuffs" might be misspelled or something, but unlikely.

Perhaps it's "ear" + "muffs", and the puzzle has 3 letters for "ear" and 5 for "muffs", but "muffs" is 5 letters: m,u,f,f,s — so first part "ear" should be 3 letters, but in the puzzle, first part is 5 boxes: e,_,_,r,m — so if "ear" is e,a,r, then why are there two more boxes with r and m?

Unless the first part is "earm" and second is "uffs", but "earm" is not a word.

I recall that in some contexts, "earmuff" is used, but still.

Another possibility: the word is "earwarmers" but e-a-r-w-a-r-m-e-r-s — 10 letters.

Not matching.

Let's count the boxes again from the user's text.

User wrote for row 2: "2 e _ _ r m _ f f _"

Perhaps the "r m" is part of the second word, but it's listed in the first group.

Maybe the separator is after "m", so first part: e _ _ r m (5 letters), second part: _ f f _ (4 letters).

So first part 5 letters ending with "rm", second part 4 letters starting with blank, then f,f,blank.

For "earmuffs", if first part is "earmu" or something.

"earmuffs" can be split as "ear" and "muffs", but "muffs" is 5 letters, not 4.

"muffs" is m,u,f,f,s — 5 letters.

So second part should be 5 letters, but here it's 4 boxes: _ f f _ — so 4 letters.

Conflict.

Unless the word is "earmuf" but not.

I think there might be a mistake in the puzzle or my understanding.

Let's search for common new year compound words.

Perhaps for row 2, it's "new year's eve" but not matching.

Another idea: perhaps it's "resolution" but not.

Let's look at the picture clue: earmuffs, so it must be related.

Perhaps the word is "cold weather" but not matching letters.

Let's try to fill what we can.

Suppose for row 2, the word is "earmuffs", and we ignore the extra box or something.

Perhaps the last underscore is for 's', and it's 8 letters with 9 boxes by error.

But in row 1, 9 boxes for 9 letters, row 3 8 boxes for 8 letters, etc.

Row 3 has 8 boxes: p _ _ t c _ r d — 8 positions.

Row 2 has 9 positions.

What 9-letter word for earmuffs? "Earmuffing" is 10.

Perhaps "protective ears" no.

I recall that "earmuffs" is sometimes spelled as two words, but still.

Another thought: perhaps it's "ear guards" but e-a-r-g-u-a-r-d-s — 9 letters! Let's check.

"ear guards" : e,a,r, ,g,u,a,r,d,s — but with space, or "earguards" as one word? Usually two words.

But if combined, "earguards" is 9 letters: e,a,r,g,u,a,r,d,s

Now, in the puzzle: e _ _ r m _ f f _ — but "earguards" has g at position 4, but in puzzle position 4 is r, not g.

Position 4 is r in puzzle, but in "earguards", position 4 is g (if e1,a2,r3,g4,u5,a6,r7,d8,s9) — so pos4=g, but puzzle has pos4=r — conflict.

Not matching.

Perhaps "headgear" but not.

Let's consider that the 'm' in the puzzle might be a typo, and it's supposed to be 'g' or something.

But that's not good.

Another idea: perhaps for row 2, it's "ear" + "muffs", and the puzzle has "ear" as e,a,r, but then why are there two more letters in first part.

Perhaps the first part is "winter" but not starting with e.

I think I need to accept that for "earmuffs", with the given boxes, we can fill as:

Pos1: e
Pos2: a
Pos3: r — but pos4 is given as r, so if pos3 is r, then pos4 is also r, which is wrong for "earmuffs".

Unless the word is "erroneous" but not related.

Let's look for words that fit e _ _ r m _ f f _

For example, "earmarked" but e-a-r-m-a-r-k-e-d — not matching f,f.

"earmuffed" — e-a-r-m-u-f-f-e-d — 9 letters! Yes!

"earmuffed" is a word, meaning equipped with earmuffs, though less common, but possible.

Letters: e,a,r,m,u,f,f,e,d

Now, in puzzle: pos1=e, pos2=?, pos3=?, pos4=r, pos5=m, pos6=?, pos7=f, pos8=f, pos9=?

For "earmuffed": pos1=e, pos2=a, pos3=r, pos4=m, pos5=u, pos6=f, pos7=f, pos8=e, pos9=d

But in puzzle, pos4 is r, but in "earmuffed", pos4 is m — conflict.

Puzzle has pos4=r, pos5=m, so for "earmuffed", pos4 should be m, but it's given as r.

Not matching.

Perhaps "earmuffs" with a silent letter, but no.

I think I found a solution.

Perhaps the word is "ear muffs" and the puzzle considers "ear" as 3 letters, but the boxing includes the space or something.

But let's check the answer online or think differently.

Another possibility: in some regions, "earmuffs" is spelled with 9 letters, but I doubt it.

Perhaps for row 2, it's "new year" but not.

Let's list all answers we have:

1. fireworks
2. ?
3. postcard
4. hourglass
5. countdown
6. midnight

For 2, with earmuffs clue, and letters e _ _ r m _ f f _, perhaps it's "ear" and "muffs", and the 'm' is the first letter of "muffs", so first part "ear" should be e,a,r, but in the puzzle, after e, there are two blanks, then r, then m, so if the two blanks are a and r, then pos3=r, pos4=r — duplicate r.

Unless the pos4 'r' is a mistake, and it's supposed to be 'a' or something.

Perhaps the word is "earwarmers" but too long.

Let's calculate the number of letters in "earmuffs": 8, so perhaps the puzzle has 8 boxes, and the user typed an extra underscore.

In the user's message: "2 e _ _ r m _ f f _" — perhaps it's "e _ _ r m _ f f" without the last underscore, but they have "_ " at the end.

In text, it's "e _ _ r m _ f f _" which is 9 items.

But in many fonts, underscores might be miscounted.

Perhaps for "earmuffs", it's e,a,r,m,u,f,f,s, and the puzzle has pos1=e, pos2=a, pos3=r, pos4=m, pos5=u, pos6=f, pos7=f, pos8=s, and the ninth box is extra or for something else.

But in the structure, for row 1, 9 boxes for 9 letters, so likely 9 for row 2.

Another idea: perhaps the word is "headphones" but h,e,a,d,p,h,o,n,e,s — not matching.

Let's try "earplugs" but e,a,r,p,l,u,g,s — 8 letters, not matching.

I recall that in some puzzles, "earmuffs" is used, and the splitting is "ear" and "muffs", with "muffs" having 5 letters.

In this case, for row 2, if first part is "ear" (3 letters), but the puzzle shows 5 boxes for first part, so perhaps the first part is "earm" and second is "uffs", but "uffs" is 4 letters: u,f,f,s — and in puzzle, second part is _ f f _ , so if pos6=u, pos7=f, pos8=f, pos9=s, then it works, and first part e _ _ r m — for "earm", but "earm" is not a word, but in compound words, sometimes it's accepted as part of "earmuffs".

So perhaps first part: e,a,r,m — so pos2=a, pos3=r, but pos4 is given as r, so if pos3=r, pos4=r, then it's "earrm" which is wrong.

Unless the pos4 'r' is a typo, and it's supposed to be 'a' or 'm'.

Perhaps in the puzzle, the 'r' at pos4 is for the 'r' in "ear", but then pos3 should be blank for 'a', but it's messy.

Let's assume that for "earmuffs", the letters are:

Pos1: e
Pos2: a
Pos3: r — but in puzzle, pos4 is r, so perhaps pos3 is not used or something.

I think I need to go with "earmuffs" and fill the blanks as per standard spelling, ignoring the box count discrepancy.

So for e _ _ r m _ f f _, if we force "earmuffs", then:

- Pos2: a (for 'a' in ear)
- Pos3: r (for 'r' in ear) — but then pos4 is also r, so perhaps pos4 is the 'r' from "ear", and pos3 is something else.

This is frustrating.

Another thought: perhaps the word is "ear" + "muffs", and the puzzle has the first part as "ear" with 3 letters, but the boxing includes the separator or something.

Let's look at the color coding. In the user's description, for row 1, orange and blue boxes, with orange for first part, blue for second.

For row 1: f _ r _ | w _ _ k s — orange: f,_,r,_ — 4 boxes, blue: w,_,_,k,s — 5 boxes, total 9.

For "fireworks", first part "fire" 4 letters, second part "works" 5 letters.

For row 2: e _ _ r m | _ f f _ — orange: e,_,_,r,m — 5 boxes, blue: _,f,f,_ — 4 boxes.

So first part 5 letters, second part 4 letters.

What compound word has first part 5 letters ending with "rm", second part 4 letters starting with blank, then f,f,blank.

For "earmuffs", if first part is "earmu" , second "ffs" but "ffs" is 3 letters.

Not.

Perhaps "winter" + "gear" but not matching.

Let's think of "snowstorm" but not.

Another idea: perhaps for new year, "ball drop" but not.

Perhaps "party hat" but not.

Let's consider that the earmuffs clue might be for a different word.

Perhaps "cold snap" but not.

I recall that "earmuffs" can be associated with "winter wear", but not helping.

Let's try to fill with "earmuffs" as e,a,r,m,u,f,f,s, and assume that the pos4 'r' is a mistake, and it should be 'm', but in the puzzle it's given as 'r', so we have to use it.

Perhaps the word is "errand" but not.

Let's search for words that match e??rm?ff?

For example, "earmarked" is e,a,r,m,a,r,k,e,d — not matching f,f.

"earmuffed" as before.

Perhaps "farmhouse" but not starting with e.

I think I have to conclude that for row 2, it's "earmuffs", and the blanks are:

- Pos2: a
- Pos3: r (even though pos4 is r, perhaps it's a double r or something, but "earmuffs" has only one r after e)

In "earmuffs", after e, it's a, then r, then m, so pos2=a, pos3=r, pos4=m, but in puzzle pos4=r, pos5=m, so if we set pos3= (blank), pos4=r, pos5=m, then for "earmuffs", pos3 should be r, but it's blank, and pos4 is r, so perhaps pos3 is not r.

Unless the 'r' at pos4 is the 'r' from "ear", and pos3 is 'a', but then pos2 is blank for what?

Let's set:

Pos1: e
Pos2: a ( for 'a' in ear)
Pos3: (blank) — but what? In "earmuffs", after e,a,r, so pos3 should be r, but if pos4 is r, then perhaps pos3 is s or something.

I give up; let's assume that the word is "earmuffs" and fill pos2=a, pos3=r, and ignore that pos4 is also r, or perhaps in the puzzle, the pos4 'r' is for the 'r' in "muffs" but "muffs" has no r.

"muffs" is m,u,f,f,s — no r.

So only one r in "earmuffs", at position 3.

So in puzzle, pos4 is r, which should be position 3, so perhaps the indexing is off by one.

Perhaps the first box is not counted, but unlikely.

Another possibility: in the puzzle, for row 2, it's "e _ _ r m" for "ear m" and then " _ f f _" for "uffs", but "ear m" is not standard.

Perhaps it's "ear" and "muffs", and the 'm' is shared, but in boxing, it's in first part.

I think for the sake of progress, I'll assume that for row 2, the word is "earmuffs", and the missing letters are a, r for the first part, and u, s for the second part, but with the given boxes.

So for e _ _ r m _ f f _, if we put:

Pos2: a
Pos3: r (so "ear" for first three, but then pos4 is r, so "earr" )
Then pos6: u ( for 'u' in muffs)
Pos9: s ( for 's' in muffs)

But then the word is e,a,r,r,m,u,f,f,s — "earrmuffs" which is misspelled.

Not good.

Perhaps pos3 is blank for 'a', pos2 for 'r', but then e,r,a,r,m — "erarm" not good.

I recall that in some dialects, but no.

Let's look for the answer.

Upon second thought, perhaps the word is "headset" but not.

Another idea: perhaps for new year, "noisemaker" but not matching.

Let's consider that the earmuffs picture might be for "winter" or "cold", but the word must start with e.

Perhaps "evergreen" but not.

I think I found it.

Perhaps the word is "ear" + "muffs", and the puzzle has "ear" as e,a,r, but the boxing shows e,_,_,r,m, so perhaps the two blanks are for 'a' and 'r', and then 'r' and 'm' are additional, but that doesn't make sense.

Perhaps the 'r' at pos4 is a typo, and it's supposed to be 'a' or 'm'.

In many online sources, for similar puzzles, "earmuffs" is used with e,a,r,m,u,f,f,s, and the splitting is after "ear" or after "m".

For this puzzle, since first part is 5 boxes, perhaps it's "earmu" and second "ffs", but "ffs" is 3 letters, not 4.

Second part is 4 boxes: _ f f _ , so 4 letters.

So if second part is "uffs", then u,f,f,s — 4 letters, perfect.

Then first part e _ _ r m — for "earm" , but "earm" is 4 letters, but there are 5 boxes: e,_,_,r,m — so 5 letters.

So first part must be 5 letters ending with "rm".

What 5-letter word ending with "rm" that is part of a compound with "uffs"?

"Storm" but s,t,o,r,m — not starting with e.

"Warm" w,a,r,m — 4 letters.

"Farm" f,a,r,m — 4.

"Charm" c,h,a,r,m — 5 letters, but not starting with e.

"Alarm" a,l,a,r,m — 5, not e.

"Arm" is 3.

Perhaps "earm" is accepted as 4 letters, but here 5 boxes.

Unless the first box is for 'e', then two blanks, then 'r', then 'm', so if the two blanks are 'a' and 'r', then it's e,a,r,r,m — "earrm" which is not a word.

Perhaps for "earmuffs", it's considered as "ear" and "muffs", and the 'm' is the first letter of "muffs", so in the puzzle, the first part is "ear" with 3 letters, but they have 5 boxes, so perhaps the extra boxes are for something else.

I think I need to move on and come back.

Let's list the answers we know:

1. fireworks
3. postcard
4. hourglass
5. countdown
6. midnight

For 2, with earmuffs, and letters, perhaps it's "earmuffs" and we fill pos2=a, pos3=r, pos6=u, pos9=s, and accept that pos4=r is redundant or something.

But in "earmuffs", there is only one r, at position 3.

So if pos4 is r, then perhaps the word has two r's.

What word has e, then a, then r, then r, then m, etc.

"Erroneous" but not.

"Arrow" but not.

Perhaps "barroom" but not starting with e.

I recall that "earmuffs" can be spelled as "ear-muffs", and in some puzzles, it's fine.

Perhaps for this puzzle, the word is "ear muffs" and the space is not counted, and the boxes include the space, but usually not.

Another idea: perhaps the 'm' in pos5 is for 'm' in "muffs", and pos4 'r' is for 'r' in "ear", so pos3 should be 'a', pos2 should be 'e' but pos1 is e, so pos2=a, pos3= (blank for what?).

Let's set pos2=a, pos3= (say, ' ' for space, but not letter).

I think the best is to assume that for "earmuffs", the letters are e,a,r,m,u,f,f,s, and in the puzzle, pos1=e, pos2=a, pos3=r, pos4=m, pos5=u, pos6=f, pos7=f, pos8=s, and the ninth box is extra or for 's' again, but in puzzle pos9 is blank, and pos8 is f, so not.

In puzzle, pos7=f, pos8=f, pos9=_, so for "earmuffs", pos6=u, pos7=f, pos8=f, pos9=s, so pos6=u, pos9=s.

Then for first part, pos1=e, pos2=?, pos3=?, pos4=r, pos5=m.

For "earmuffs", pos2=a, pos3=r, but then pos4=r, so if pos3=r, pos4=r, then it's "earr" for first four, but "earmuffs" has "earm" for first four: e,a,r,m.

So pos4 should be m, but in puzzle it's r.

So unless the puzzle has a typo, and pos4 is meant to be 'm', but it's written as 'r'.

Perhaps in the image, it's 'm', but in text, it's 'r' by mistake.

Given that, and since all other words fit, I'll assume that for row 2, it's "earmuffs", and pos4 is 'm', not 'r', so we fill pos2=a, pos3=r, pos6=u, pos9=s.

So the word is e,a,r,m,u,f,f,s — "earmuffs".

And the 'r' at pos4 is a typo in the user's text; it should be 'm'.

Because in "earmuffs", after e,a,r, it's m, not r.

So likely, in the puzzle, pos4 is 'm', not 'r'.

So I'll proceed with that.

So for row 2: e a r m u f f s

With pos2=a, pos3=r, pos6=u, pos9=s.

And pos4 should be m, but in user's text it's 'r', so probably error.

So final answers:

1. fireworks
2. earmuffs
3. postcard
4. hourglass
5. countdown
6. midnight

Now to write the filled words.

For each, the complete compound word.

So:

1. fireworks
2. earmuffs
3. postcard
4. hourglass
5. countdown
6. midnight

And for the blanks, but the question is to complete the words, so we can list the full words.

Since the task is to fill in the missing letters, but for the answer, we can provide the completed words.

So Final Answer:

1. fireworks
2. earmuffs
3. postcard
4. hourglass
5. countdown
6. midnight

To confirm, all are compound words related to New Year:

- fireworks: for celebration
- earmuffs: for cold weather in winter/new year
- postcard: for sending greetings
- hourglass: for time passing to new year
- countdown: to new year
- midnight: when new year starts

Perfect.

So despite the confusion with row 2, it must be "earmuffs".

So I'll go with that.

Final Answer:
1. fireworks
2. earmuffs
3. postcard
4. hourglass
5. countdown
6. midnight