Countries around the world are marking New Year’s Day on Tuesday, and in some parts of the world, celebrations are temporarily outweighing the conflict.
South Pacific countries were the first to say goodbye to 2024. Midnight in New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of Eastern Time.
Millions of people across Asia prepared for the Year of the Snake, a year of rebirth in the Asian zodiac.
In Japan, which observes the zodiac cycle from January 1st, temples and homes undergo deep cleaning, while shops selling snake-themed products open before much of the country is shut down for the festival. was seen.
There was a somber atmosphere in South Korea after the Jeju Air flight crash in Muan on Sunday that killed 179 people. Most celebrations have been curtailed or canceled during a period of mourning across the country.
In Israel, the new year marks the 15th month of the Gaza war. Scores of hostages are still being held in Gaza since the start of the fighting, which has left more than 45,000 civilians dead, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Lebanon has been reeling from years of severe economic crisis and extensive damage since Israel launched attacks on the militant group Hezbollah in early September.
Meanwhile, many Syrians are cautiously optimistic about the coming year after the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad.
The war continues in Ukraine. The country exchanged hundreds of captured soldiers with Russia on Monday. This is one of the few areas of cooperation between the two countries since President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion.
European cities are getting into the New Year’s spirit with concerts in palaces, musical theater in halls, and champagne-filled midnight masses.
Pope Francis will mark the start of the quarter-century Jubilee year, which is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome.
The Pope will celebrate Vespers in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, followed by Mass on Wednesday.
Paris will celebrate fireworks on the famous Champs Elysées following the hosting of the 2024 Summer Olympics and the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
However, forecasts of storms are expected to dampen the mood in many parts of the UK.
Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay celebrations, which usually include street parties, rock concerts and fireworks, have been canceled as heavy rain and winds are forecast for Scotland.
Meanwhile, London will celebrate with a parade through the city center featuring 10,000 performers, as well as fireworks at Westminster and Big Ben along the River Thames.
In Brazil, more than 2 million people will gather along Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach to watch fireworks from ferries parked offshore and concerts by Brazilian pop stars such as Anitta and Caetano Veloso.
Auckland, New Zealand, celebrated the new year with thousands of people flocking to downtown, climbing to the top of the city’s ring of volcanoes for a vantage point for fireworks, and a light display recognizing Auckland’s indigenous tribes. It was one of the first cities to welcome
Two hours later, more than a million people gathered in Sydney Harbor for a traditional fireworks display in Australia. Some partygoers arrived nearly 20 hours early to secure a good vantage point. Later, in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, a spectacular fireworks display was held near the city’s famous Petronas Towers.
The celebrations began at 9 p.m. local time (5 a.m. Eastern time), with the indigenous group We Are Warriors setting off fireworks for the first time. The second display on the Harbor Bridge at midnight lasted nearly 20 minutes and was watched on television by around 25 million people around the world.
Spanning 39 different local time zones, it takes a total of 26 hours for the entire world to usher in the New Year.
