New Year 2025: World waves goodbye to tumultuous 12 months

Millions around the world were on Tuesday getting set to ring in the New Year, with celebrations briefly outshining conflict in some parts of the globe.

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.

In Auckland, thousands thronged downtown or climbed the city’s ring of volcanic peaks for a fireworks vantage point — and a light display recognizing Auckland’s Indigenous tribes.

In Australia two hours later, more than 1 million people were gathered at the Sydney Harbor for the traditional fireworks. Some partygoers, eager to secure a good vantage point, arrived nearly 20 hours ahead.

Celebrations kicked off at 9 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET), with the first display of fireworks created by the Indigenous group We Are Warriors. Projections of Aboriginal fisherwoman Barangaroo were splashed across the Harbour Bridge as fireworks erupted to celebrate the land, sea and sky.

British pop star Robbie Williams is expected to lead a singalong later in the evening.

And across Asia, millions were readying for the Year of the Snake, seen as the year of rebirth in the Asian zodiac.

In Japan, which observes the zodiac cycle from Jan. 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.

The mood was somber in South Korea after Sunday’s Jeju Air flight crash at Muan that killed 179 people. Most celebrations were cut back or canceled, while the country observed a period of national mourning.

In Israel, the new year, also called “Sylvester” by the Israelis, is marked by the War in Gaza entering its 15th month. Scores of hostages remain in captivity under Hamas, while more than 45,000 civilians have died in Gaza since the fighting began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Lebanon is reeling from a years-long severe economic crisis and heavy damage after Israel launched an offensive on the militant group Hezbollah in early September.

Syrians are meanwhile expressing optimism for the coming year after the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad.

In Ukraine, the war grinds on. It exchanged hundreds of captive soldiers with Russia on Monday—one of the few areas of cooperation between the two sides since President Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion.

European cities are ringing in the New Year with concerts in palaces and musical theater in halls, as well as midnight mass services followed by sparkling champagne.

Pope Francis will be marking the start of Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims.

The Pope will celebrate a vespers at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, followed by Mass on Wednesday.

Paris will follow a memorable 2024 hosting the Summer Olympics and reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral with a fireworks extravaganza on the famed Champs-Elysées.

But a stormy forecast is expected to dampen the mood in many parts of the United Kingdom.

Heavy rain and winds forecasted for Scotland have prompted the cancelation of Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay celebrations, which usually include a street party, a rock concert and fireworks.

London, meanwhile, will celebrate with a parade through the city center featuring 10,000 performers, while fireworks will be staged over Westminster and Big Ben along the River Thames.

In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is expected to host more than 2 million people along Copacabana Beach to watch fireworks erupt from ferries parked offshore and concerts by Brazilian popstars like Anitta and Caetano Veloso.