Wellington, New Zealand — Auckland has become the first major city to welcome 2025, with thousands of revelers counting down to the new year and cheering on colorful fireworks launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, the Sky Tower, and a spectacular light show in the center.
Thousands of people also flocked to the city center or climbed the city’s ring of volcanic peaks for a fireworks display and light display recognizing Auckland’s indigenous tribes. It follows a year marked by Maori rights protests in the nation of 5 million.
South Pacific countries are the first to ring in the new year, with midnight in New Zealand 18 hours earlier ball drop in Times Square in New York.
Reuters
Other cities around the world were gearing up to hold celebrations highlighting local cultures and traditions, after a year marred by ongoing conflict and political instability.
In Australia, more than 1 million people are now expected on Sydney Harbor for the traditional fireworks. British pop star Robbie Williams will lead a chant and indigenous ceremonies and performances will recognize the first people on earth.
Much of Japan has been shut down ahead of the country’s biggest holidays as temples and homes undergo a thorough cleaning, including floor coverings called “tatami” with large sticks.
The coming year of the snake in the Asian zodiac is heralded as one of rebirth, alluding to the reptilian skin. Shops in Japan, which observes the zodiac cycle starting Jan. 1, sell small smiling snake figurines and other snake-themed products. Other places in Asia will begin marking the Year of the Snake later, with the Lunar New Year.
In South Korea, celebrations were scaled back or canceled as the country observes a period of national mourning after Sunday crash of a Jeju Air flight to Muan which killed 179 people.
Jakarta’s New Year celebrations will feature a dazzling fireworks display, including a drone show with 800 drones, followed by countdowns to midnight at the city’s iconic Hotel Indonesia rotunda.
New Year’s commemorations amid wars and conflicts
Chinese state media covered an exchange of New Year greetings between leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a reminder of growing proximity between two leaderswhich face tensions with the West.
Xi told Putin that their countries will “always move forward hand in hand,” the official Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday.
China has maintained strong ties and trade with Russia since the latter invaded Ukraine in 2022, helping offset Western sanctions and attempts to isolate Putin.
New Year’s Eve celebrations are likely to be subdued Israel as its war with Hamas in Gaza a 15th month passes and dozens of hostages remain in captivity.
Lebanon is suffering from a severe economic crisis, and many areas were badly damaged during the , which ended with an unstable ceasefire. Meanwhile, Syrians express hope and uncertainty for the coming year after the overthrow of dictator President Bashar al-Assad.
Other celebrations around the world
In Dubai, thousands are expected to attend an annual fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.
Rome’s traditional New Year’s festivities have an added attraction: the start of Pope Francis’ Holy Year, the once-in-a-quarter-century celebration that is projected to bring some 32 million pilgrims to the Eternal City in 2025.
On Tuesday, Francis will celebrate vespers at St Peter’s Basilica, followed by mass on Wednesday, when he is expected to again call for peace amid the wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Hours before Germany rings in the new year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the country’s 84 million residents to stick together despite numerous global crises and wars, the country’s poor economy and a deadly attack on the Christmas market that shocked the nation.
“We are a united country. And we can draw strength from that, especially in difficult times like these,” Scholz said in his pre-recorded speech.
Paris will culminate a momentous 2024 with its traditional festive countdown and fireworks extravaganza on the famous Champs Elysees.
The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games hosted in the French capital from July to September transformed the city into a place of joy, brotherhood and amazing sporting achievements, and marked another important milestone in its recovery from the deadly extremist attacks of 2015 by al-Qaeda and ISIS
London plans to ring in the New Year with a pyrotechnic display along the River Thames and a parade through the city center on Wednesday with 10,000 performers. Fireworks will explode against the backdrop of the London Eye, the large Ferris wheel that crosses the river from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, assuming strong winds and bad weather expected to be much worse further north of the United Kingdom do not oblige. a last minute cancellation.
However, with a storm forecast to bring bitter weather to the north of the UK, festivities in Edinburgh, Scotland, including the famous Hogmanay Street Party, Garden Concert and Castle Fireworks Display, were canceled cancel in advance.
Rio de Janeiro will celebrate Brazil’s New Year’s Eve on Copacabana Beach, with 10 ferries sailing into the sea for 12 minutes followed by fireworks. Thousands of tourists on six cruise ships will witness the spectacle up close.
The Rio City Council was keeping a close eye on his plans for a light and sound display. More than 2 million people are expected at the Copacabana, hoping to take in concerts by superstar Brazilian artists such as pop singer Anitta and Grammy Award winner Caetano Veloso.
Times Square and in the United States
In New York City, the organization that manages Times Square has tested its famous ball drop and inspected 2,025 numbers, lights and thousands of crystals, as part of a tradition that dates back to 1907. The celebration of ‘this year will include musical performances by TLC, the Jonas Brothers. , Rita Ora and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
The festival, which covers several blocks around the city’s main tourist and theater center, is expected to draw large crowds despite the rain and cold weather.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas will say goodbye to 2024 with some old traditions and some new ones. Its annual eight-minute pyrotechnic show will take place on the Las Vegas Strip, with 340,000 people expected as fireworks are launched from the rooftops of nine casinos.
Nearby, the huge Sphere venue will show countdowns to midnight in different time zones for the first time.
In Pasadena, eager Rose Parade watchers had to camp out on the cold streets and ring in the new year in hopes of finding prime spots for the iconic Southern California tradition. The parade precedes the Rose Bowl football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks on Jan. 1.
Thousands of people are expected to participate in a midnight 5K race along the parade route.
About 200,000 people will flock to a party in Nashville with a five-hour show from some of country music’s biggest stars. At midnight, one hour after New York time, a 16-foot-tall musical note weighing 400 pounds will fall as fireworks light up the sky.
Celebrations will reverberate around the world as the new year arrives in different time zones, with American Samoa among the latest to welcome 2025, 24 hours after New Zealand.