Fireworks were lighting up night skies around the world as New Year’s revelers ring in 2025.
Nations in the South Pacific Ocean were the first to wave goodbye to 2024. Midnight in New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of Eastern Time.
Auckland, New Zealand, was one of the first cities to welcome the new year as thousands thronged downtown or climbed the city’s ring of volcanic peaks for a fireworks vantage point – and a light display recognising Auckland’s Indigenous tribes.
In Australia two hours later, more than 1m people gathered at the Sydney harbour for the traditional fireworks. Some partygoers, eager to secure a good vantage point, arrived nearly 20 hours ahead.
Later, in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, spectacular fireworks were launched near the city’s famous Petronas Towers.
Across Asia, millions readied for the Year of the Snake, seen as the year of rebirth in the Asian zodiac.
In Japan, which observes the zodiac cycle from January 1, stores were seen selling snake-themed products while temples and homes underwent a thorough cleaning before much of the nation shut down in celebration.
Thailand had fireworks nationwide, including a show in Bangkok with the city’s Chao Phraya River as a beautiful scenic backdrop. The country’s tourism board livestreamed its celebration on YouTube, with musical performances in the lead up to the midnight finale.
The mood was sombre in South Korea after Sunday’s Jeju Air flight crash at Muan that killed 179 people. Most celebrations were cut back or cancelled while the country observed a period of national mourning.
In spite of all the hardships, at least one Middle Eastern city rung in the new year in style. Dubai’s night sky gleamed around the famed Burj Khalifa skyscraper, which had animations on its walls as the firework display shined down on the opulent city.
European cities were ringing in the New Year with concerts in palaces and musical theatre in halls, as well as midnight mass services.
Pope Francis will be marking the start of Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century event expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome.
The pontiff celebrated a vespers at St Peter’s Basilica last night, followed by Mass today.
Paris will follow a memorable 2024 hosting of the Summer Olympics and reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral with a fireworks extravaganza on the famed Champs-Elysees.
London celebrated with a parade through the city centre featuring 10,000 performers, while fireworks were staged over Westminster and Big Ben along the River Thames.
In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro was expected to host more than two million people along Copacabana Beach to watch fireworks erupt from ferries parked offshore and concerts by Brazilian popstars like Anitta and Caetano Veloso.
In all, it takes 26 hours for the entire world to welcome the New Year across 39 different local time zones.
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