Cities around the world are gearing up for New Year's Eve celebrations, showcasing diverse cultures and traditions. Despite a year marked by conflict and political instability, communities are coming together to welcome 2025.
Cities around the world are preparing to celebrate the New Year with festivities showcasing local cultures and traditions following a year marked by ongoing conflict and political instability. Countries in the South Pacific Ocean will be the first to welcome 2025, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York.
In New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, thousands are expected to gather in the downtown area or ascend the city’s ring of volcanic peaks for a fireworks vantage point and a light display honoring Auckland’s Indigenous tribes. This follows a year marked by protests advocating for Mori rights in the nation of 5 million. Two hours later in Australia, over 1 million people are anticipated at Sydney Harbor for the traditional fireworks display. British pop star Robbie Williams will lead a singalong, and Indigenous ceremonies and performances will acknowledge the land’s first people. Much of Japan has shut down ahead of the nation’s biggest holiday, as temples and homes undergo a thorough cleaning, including swatting floor mats called “tatami” with large sticks. The upcoming Year of the Snake in the Asian zodiac is regarded as one of rebirth – alluding to the reptile’s shedding skin. Stores in Japan, which observes the zodiac cycle from January 1st, have been selling miniature figures of smiling snakes and other snake-themed products. Other regions in Asia will begin marking the Year of the Snake later, with the Lunar New Year. In South Korea, celebrations have been scaled back or canceled as the country observes a period of national mourning following the Sunday crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan that resulted in the deaths of 179 people. Chinese state media covered an exchange of New Year’s greetings between leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, serving as a reminder of the growing closeness between two leaders who face tensions with the west. Xi told Putin that their countries will “always move forward hand in hand,” according to the official Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday
NEW YEAR' 'CELEBRATIONS' 'CULTURE' 'TRADITIONS' 'GLOBAL UNCERTAINTIES
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