Which Country Celebrates New Year 2025 First & Which Last ?
Which Country Celebrates New Year 2025 First : Timeline and Unique Tradition
New Year as an occasion is not limited to one country but it is a worldwide event. All nations have their distinct features that are related to their time zones and customs. While some countries are the first in the world to say ‘Happy New Year’ and start the fireworks and celebrations, others celebrate it many hours later. Let’s first begin by looking at the timeline of the New Year’s celebrations, from country one to country two while also taking note of some important customs along with it.
Timeline of New Year Celebrations with Indian Standard Time (IST)
New Year 2025 – First Celebratation: Kiribati (Kiritimati Island) – December 31, 3:30 PM IST
In the UTC+14 time zone, New Year is celebrated on the Kiritimati island of Kiribati. Kiritimati island is the first to welcome the New Year 2025 . The Pacific island is known for its gatherings, traditional music, and celebratory dances.
New Zealand’s Auckland on the other hand is among the earliest major city of the world to usher the new year in and whenever the time clock shown December 31st 4:30 PM IST has been seen large crowds at of thunderstorms at sky towers (fireworks).
Australia (Sydney) – 6:30 PM IST, December 31
Australia also welcomed the New Year 2025 with extravagant fireworks exhibition staged above the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House as part of the annual New Year celebrations.
China (Beijing) and Russia (Far East) – 9:30 PM IST, December 31
Beijing, in China, has a family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve and celebrates the occasion with lantern festivals the next day, while the East of Russia observes the New Year with fireworks, festive means including traditional salad, as well as caviar.
India – 12:00 Midnight, January 1
Celebrations in India are colorful and maintain a lot of Indian traditions and cultures. Celebrations also include indoor and outdoor parties, fireworks displays, and many more. Some of the busiest places with a lot of celebrations include Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
South Africa (Cape Town) – 3:30 AM IST, January 1
South Africans welcome the New Year with beach parties, traditional braais (barbecues), and the iconic Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, which includes colorful parades and music.
France (Paris) – 4:30 AM IST, January 1
Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées dazzles Paris with their fireworks light shows and showcases majestic displays all carried out in night clubs and cafe’s on January 1st at 1:30 IST.
UK (London) – 5:30 AM IST, January 1
The first day of a new year in London starts with the ringing sounds of the Big Ben followed by stunning fireworks right above the Thames River.
Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) – 8:30 AM IST, January 1
Brazil’s famous Copacabana Beach hosts one of the world’s largest New Year’s Eve parties, featuring live music, samba dancing, and vibrant fireworks.
Canada (Toronto) – 10:30 AM IST, January 1
Canadians get their gears in motion with ice skating, host banquets and witness stunning fireworks in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto.
USA (New York City) – 11:30 AM IST, January 1
The Times Square Ball Drop is an iconic event, watched by millions globally. Americans celebrate with champagne toasts, fireworks, and countdowns.
Last to Celebrate: Baker Island and Howland Island (USA) – 5:30 PM IST, January 1
These uninhabited islands in the Pacific Ocean are the last places on Earth to enter the New Year.
Unique Traditions Around the World
Japan: Families ring temple bells 108 times, symbolizing the cleansing of wishes and sins, and eat soba noodles for longevity..
Scotland: The Hogmanay festival involves “first-footing,” where the first visitor after midnight brings good luck..
Spain: At midnight, people eat 12 grapes, one with each chime of the clock, representing good luck for the year ahead..
Philippines: Filipinos wear polka dots and keep round fruits for prosperity..
Denmark: There is a notion of throwing a plate and wishing through it. Danes actually get off chairs at New Years midnight to “jump” into the New Year and break plates at friends doors for good luck.
Summary
The New Year is one of the few occasions that transcends all cultures, arising from an array of beliefs, customs, and celebrations. For those in the islands of the Pacific who are the first ones to observe the New Year to the last celebrations observed in the westernmost tip of the Pacific Ocean, all intents and purposes are to begin a new year, which is what all of them do. From keen New Year fireworks in New Zealand, and its countdown in the USA. The New Year is indeed the few occasions the world gets united for a purpose, celebration.
