A large part of the world has’ Sayonara! ‘until 2020 long before the new year landed in the US – and a muted Times Square.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage around the world – making 2020 undoubtedly one of the worst years on record – there are a few countries that ushered in 2021 ahead of us.
Samoa, Tonga and Kiritimati
The Pacific Islands are the first in the world to bring in the new year. Apia, the capital of Samoa and its largest city, celebrated with music and a fireworks display that was streamed live on the government Facebook page.
The new year on the islands began at five o’clock Eastern time.
And although it sits right next to Samoa, American Samoa is actually 25 hours behind the island, making it one of the last to welcome 2021.
New Zealand
Kiwis are ringing in 2021 with a fireworks display on the Auckland Harbor Bridge – a double celebration as the country enjoys COVID-free status. Thousands gathered for the five-minute light show, reports the Evening Standard.
Australia
The streets of Sydney were empty despite the city’s annual, epic fireworks display at Harbor Bridge.
City officials have implemented strict COVID-19 restrictions in hopes of stopping crowds – and limiting the spread of the virus, reports news.com.au.
Melbourne, Australia’s second most populous city, ended its New Year’s fireworks display completely due to the pandemic.
Japan
The country’s new year began Eastern Time on Thursday at 10 p.m. The celebration usually sees crowds flocking to shrines and temples to celebrate the holiday. This year, officials closed the gates of Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, among the most popular, to restrain the crowd.
Provincial Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to ’emphasize life above fun’ while Tokyo struggles with a surge of coronavirus infections.
China
Beijing’s annual light show has been canceled, but thousands of people in Wuhan – where the COVID-19 outbreak originated – were celebrated by releasing balloons into the air, BBC News reports.
Taiwan
The Asian country has kept a theme of ‘love’ to bring in 2021, encouraging medical workers in the front line in its fireworks bonanza in the capital of Taipei, Euro News said.
The five-minute show used 16,000 fireworks and included red and blue hearts.
Russia
Russia welcomes 2021 with a massive fireworks display above the Kremlin in Moscow’s Red Square, reports the Telegraph.
In his annual speech before midnight to the country, President Vladimir Putin called on the country to unite in its fight against the coronavirus.
Greece
Fireworks like in the night sky over the Acropolis in Athens while Greeks celebrated the new year, ABC News said on Twitter.
Greek officials announced before the new year that authorities would keep people off the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg has canceled the city’s typically ominous New Year’s Day due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, the mayor, Geoff Makhubo, lit a candle at the Nelson Mandela Bridge and urged residents to do the same – instead of firefighters, reports KSN-TV.
Greek officials announced before the new year that authorities would keep people off the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg has canceled the city’s typically ominous New Year’s Day due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, the mayor, Geoff Makhubo, lit a candle at the Nelson Mandela Bridge and urged residents to do the same – instead of firefighters, reports KSN-TV.
Germany
What is usually one of the biggest street festivals in Europe was the celebration of this year at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin without a live audience. Berliners who still want to enjoy the music could stream it online or watch it on TV.
France
Although there were no public events in Paris, the city offered free entertainment, according to the Daily Express, with a virtual concert in the famous Notre Dame Cathedral by composer Jean-Michel Jarre.
Those heading into the new year to ring were under the watchful eye of 100,000 police officers sent across the country to enforce lock-in rules, according to France24.com.
Scotland
The Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh were broadcast online, thanks to the help of 150 drones that captured the event, reports the Daily Record.
The Prime Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has set out what he expects not to see. No meetings, no house parties, no first steps. Instead, we must bring 2021 into our own homes with only our own households, ”he said.