New Zealand's Auckland First City To Usher in 2025
From New York, and the Middle East to Paris and Germany – globally New Year’s Eve has been a mixed bag of emotions and festivities took place accordingly
Auckland has become the first major city to ring in 2025, when thousands of revellers gathered to count down to the New Year. The celebration featured vibrant fireworks launched from Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest structure, alongside a stunning downtown light show.
Crowds flocked to the city centre and climbed Auckland’s volcanic peaks to secure prime views of the fireworks and a light display honouring the city’s indigenous tribes. These celebrations come after a year marked by protests advocating for Māori rights in the nation of 5 million.
As one of the first places in the world to welcome the New Year, New Zealand’s midnight strikes 18 hours ahead of the iconic ball drop in New York’s Times Square. Meanwhile, cities around the globe prepared their own celebrations, showcasing local cultures and traditions after a year shaped by conflict and political challenges.
In Australia, people gathered at Sydney Harbour for the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks. The festivities included a singalong led by British pop star Robbie Williams, as well as indigenous ceremonies and performances to honour the land's First Peoples.
Asia Prepares for the Year of the Snake
In Japan, the nation paused for its biggest holiday, with homes and temples undergoing a traditional deep cleaning, including the ritual swatting of tatami mats with large sticks.
The upcoming Year of the Snake in the Asian zodiac symbolises rebirth, inspired by the snake’s ability to shed its skin. Japanese stores are filled with snake-themed products, including figurines of smiling snakes, as the country marks the zodiac cycle beginning 1 January, 2025. Other parts of Asia will celebrate the Year of the Snake later, during the Lunar New Year.
In South Korea, celebrations have been scaled back or cancelled as the country mourns the tragic crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan on 29 December, 2024, which claimed 179 lives.
New Year’s celebrations in Jakarta featured a stunning fireworks display, complemented by a drone show with 800 drones, culminating in countdowns at the city’s iconic Hotel Indonesia Roundabout.
Diplomatic Exchanges Between China and Russia
Chinese state media highlighted an exchange of New Year’s greetings between President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reflecting the growing closeness between the two leaders amid tensions with the West. According to the official Xinhua News Agency, Xi assured Putin that their nations would ‘always move forward hand in hand’.
China has maintained strong ties and robust trade with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, helping to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions and attempts to isolate Putin.
Conflicts Dim Celebrations in the Middle East
In Israel, New Year’s festivities were subdued as the war with Hamas in Gaza continues into its 15th month, with many hostages still in captivity.
Lebanon continues to grapple with a severe economic crisis, compounded by the lingering effects of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which concluded with an uneasy ceasefire. Meanwhile, Syrians face the coming year with a mix of hope and uncertainty following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
In Dubai, thousands gathered for the annual fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, spectacularly marking the New Year.
Rome’s Celebrations and the Holy Year
Rome’s traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations have an added significance this year as they usher in Pope Francis’ Holy Year, a once-in-25-year event anticipated to draw around 32 million pilgrims to the eternal city in 2025.
On 31 December, 2024, Pope Francis led a vespers service at St. Peter’s Basilica, which will be followed by a mass on 1 January, 2025. During the celebrations, he was expected to renew his calls for peace amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
In the United States, the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota held an 11 pm mass on New Year’s Eve, followed by a champagne reception and toasts. 1 January, 2025 marks the Solemnity of Mary, a holy day of obligation for Catholics, with many churches offering vigil masses on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Germany’s Chancellor Calls for Unity
As Germany prepared to welcome the New Year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged the nation’s 84 million citizens to remain united in the face of global crises, economic challenges, and the aftermath of a tragic Christmas market attack.
“We are a country built on solidarity, and this togetherness is our source of strength—especially in difficult times like these,” Scholz said in his prerecorded New Year’s address.
Paris Recaptures the Olympic Spirit
Paris concluded 2024 with its traditional New Year’s Eve countdown and a fireworks display on the iconic Champs-Élysées.
2024 had Paris host the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games from July to September, transforming the city into a hub of joy, unity, and extraordinary athletic achievements. The events also marked a significant milestone in the city’s recovery from the devastating extremist attacks by Al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in 2015.
Britons Brave the Winter for Celebrations
London welcomed the New Year with a dazzling fireworks display along the River Thames, set against the backdrop of the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. On 1 January, 2025, the city centre will come alive with a grand parade featuring 10,000 performers, adding vibrant energy to the celebrations despite the wintry weather.
Storms Disrupt Festivities in Scotland
Severe weather in parts of the United Kingdom led to the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, including the iconic street party, garden concert, and castle fireworks display.
Rio’s Spectacular Celebration
Rio de Janeiro hosted Brazil’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration on Copacabana Beach, featuring 12 minutes of dazzling fireworks launched from 10 ferries offshore. Thousands of tourists aboard six cruise ships were to enjoy the show from up close.
Rio’s City Hall’s details of its light and sound display were under wraps, but more than 2 million revellers were expected to attend. The celebration was to include performances by Brazilian music stars such as pop icon Anitta and Grammy-winning artist Caetano Veloso.
American Traditions, Old and New
In New York City, preparations for the iconic Times Square ball drop were underway, with organisers testing the famous descent and inspecting the 2025 numerals, lights, and thousands of sparkling crystals—continuing a tradition that dates back to 1907. This year’s celebration featured performances by TLC, Jonas Brothers, Rita Ora, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Despite the rain and chilly temperatures, the festivities, stretching across several blocks in the city’s bustling tourism and theatre district, were expected to attract large crowds.
Las Vegas Rings in the New Year
Las Vegas will bid farewell to 2024 with a mix of old and new traditions. The city’s annual eight-minute pyrotechnic show will light up the Las Vegas Strip, with fireworks launched from the rooftops of nine casinos. Around 3,40,000 people were expected to gather for the spectacular display.
Nearby, the impressive Sphere venue was to showcase countdowns to midnight across different time zones for the first time.
Country Music, Football, and a Midnight Race
In Pasadena, eager spectators of the Rose Parade were expected to camp out on the cold streets, awaiting prime spots to watch the iconic Southern California tradition. The parade will precede the Rose Bowl football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks on 1 January, 2025.
Thousands of participants will also take part in a midnight 5K race along the parade route.
In Nashville, Tennessee, around 200,000 people will gather for a party featuring a five-hour show with some of country music’s biggest stars. At midnight—one hour after New York’s celebration—a 16-foot tall music note weighing 400 pounds will drop, followed by a spectacular fireworks display.
Global Celebrations
As the New Year arrived in different time zones, celebrations unfolded around the world, with American Samoa being among the last to usher in 2025, a full 24 hours after New Zealand.
