Citizens around the world are gearing up for New Year’s celebrations, showcasing their cultures and traditions through vibrant festivities as the countdown to midnight approaches. Cities are preparing for elaborate displays of fireworks from Rio de Janeiro to Sydney, reflecting the diversity and resilience of the human spirit after another year marked by global conflicts and political instability.
New Zealand will be the first country to welcome 2025, with Auckland ringing in the new year 18 hours before the iconic ball drop at Times Square, New York. Thousands are expected to flock to Auckland’s downtown and volcanic hills to witness the spectacular fireworks display honoring the city’s indigenous Māori tribes. This celebration follows a year of protests advocating for Māori rights in the nation of five million residents.
Two hours later, Sydney, Australia, will host over one million spectators at the harbor for its traditional fireworks display. Pop star Robbie Williams will headline the performance, with ceremonies and indigenous acknowledgments celebrating the First Peoples of Australia. Sydney’s spectacular fireworks will light up the sky, offering residents and tourists alike heartwarming moments as they bid farewell to 2024.
Meanwhile, Japan — preparing for the Year of the Snake — is deepening its cultural rituals. Homes and temples are being thoroughly cleaned, with traditional carpet beaters being utilized. The upcoming Year of the Snake, starting January 1 on the Japanese zodiac calendar, symbolizes renewal, reflected in the surge of shops selling small snake figurines and other themed items. Although the primary celebrations for the Lunar New Year will occur later, Japan emphasizes its cultural heritage during this time.
Conversely, South Korea’s celebrations have been dampened, as the nation observes national mourning after the tragic crash of Jeju Air flight over the weekend, which resulted in 179 fatalities.
On the geopolitical front, state media coverage from China announced New Year wishes exchanged between leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reinforcing their countries’ closeness amid increasing tensions with the West. Xi noted, through state news outlet Xinhua, their nations will “always move forward hand-in-hand,” emphasizing shared interests amid global scrutiny.
Traditional celebrations also carry weight this New Year’s Eve; for example, the festivities at St. Peter's Basilica will have special significance this year as Pope Francis begins the Holy Year. The papal event, held on Tuesday, is expected to attract approximately 32 million pilgrims. Following the evening mass, the Pope is likely to call for peace amid various global conflicts, including those affecting Ukraine and the Middle East.
Many American cities are preparing for their own significant gatherings. The Cathedral of St. Paul, Minnesota, will host its New Year’s Eve mass, which will follow champagne toasts and celebrations. January 1 is also regarded as the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, prompting numerous other churches across the country to hold evening vigil services.
Paris will bid adieu to 2024 with its customary countdown, concluding with splendid fireworks above the Champs-Élysées, wrapping up the massive success of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Even across the English Channel, London plans to celebrate the New Year with spectacular fireworks along the River Thames and boasts nearly 10,000 engaged artists contributing to this year’s show. But adverse weather conditions are threatening celebrations elsewhere; Edinburgh has already canceled its Hogmanay festivities, including street parties and concerts.
Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach will see more than 2 million visitors attend one of Brazil’s largest New Year’s parties. The city is preparing grand 12-minute-long fireworks celebrations, visible from cruise ships anchored off the coast. While specific details of the light and sound display remain secret, it is anticipated to feature performances by Brazilian superstars like pop singer Anitta and Grammy winner Caetano Veloso.
Stateside, New York City prepares for its iconic Times Square ball drop, with this year featuring musical performances by the Jonas Brothers and TLC. Despite rainy weather predictions, crowds are expected to fill the blocks surrounding the area which has been central to this annual event since 1907, capturing many visitors’ imaginations.
Las Vegas will also incorporate both old and new traditions, with the well-known eight-minute fireworks show lighting up the famous Strip. Upwards of 340,000 are expected to join for the Incidents at nine casinos. Nearby, the massive Sphere venue will introduce its countdown to midnight, echoing through various time zones around the globe, culminating as American Samoa is one of the last places to welcome 2025 at 14:00 GMT the following day.
Celebrations are also ramping up across Asia. Countries are coming alive with beautiful fireworks displays. While China and Taiwan will usher in the New Year, officially the Year of the Snake won't occur until late January as the Chinese New Year follows the lunisolar calendar. Major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, will witness light shows, stuffy as it attracts vast crowds for midnight celebrations. Notably, the illuminated skyline of Taipei will draw throngs to celebrate beneath the Taipei 101 skyscraper.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on other parts of Asia, where gatherings abound, with light shows illuminating areas from Nepal to the Philippines. It appears this year's celebrations are more cohesive, reflecting shared hopes for peace and prosperity across the globe.
But not every celebration will be marked by joy; some areas, like Syria, are cautiously optimistic as residents take to the streets buoyed by recent political developments. Following years of hardship, many locals are finally confident to celebrate with fireworks readily available for purchase.
A tumultuous weather system has prompted severe cancellations of planned events across the United Kingdom, reflecting Britain’s challenging winter conditions.
By comparison, Puerto Rico is awakening today to widespread power outages, adding distress to its New Year’s celebrations.
With such variance across the globe, it becomes evident how intertwined the human experience is, even when distances separate us. While some celebrate under the brilliant glimmers of fireworks lighting the night sky, others navigate through trials and challenges as they hope for brighter tomorrows.
The arrival of 2025 promises to herald new beginnings, challenging global perspectives around tradition, hope, and resilience.