Just as the sun rises from east to west bringing with it the dawn of a new day at different times in different countries, the clock strikes 12 ringing in the New Year progressively along varied time zones. Here's a look at some popular traditions that a few countries practise to usher in the New Year.
Setting the tone of celebrations across the globe would be the highly-anticipated and attended celebrations on New Year's eve in Australia's port city Sydney. The celebrations start rolling from the early evening of December 31 with a variety of aerial shows, fireworks choreographed to sync with popular music and the Harbour of Light parade all centred on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. But the major attraction will be the fireworks display at the stroke of midnight that is said to be the second largest in the world. Apart from the usual parties and themed balls, this year the organisers have asked the visitors to ‘wear their own touch of blue' as a reflection of the city's spirit, reads the city's official website.
Carnivals and parades
As the Earth spins on its axis, the New Year dawns next on South Africa, which is another popular destination for those looking for a gala time and grandeur to celebrate the arrival of a new year. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town is a major attraction with its fireworks display, live music and dance. The city also hosts the famous Ministreal Carnival. The beaches of Durban and Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newton, are also popular spots of celebration. The city of Johannesburg had a quirky tradition of ringing in New Year's Day by firing gunshots and throwing fridges off balconies, but this has now been restricted by the government.
In France, December 31 sees families celebrating with a feast called Le Reveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre . Apart from that, the Champs-Elysees is the place to be when the fireworks in the sky mark the beginning of a new year in the backdrop of the opulently lit Eiffel Tower.
Not far away from the French capital, London, England, sets the celebrations rolling for its new year celebrations. The New Year parade begins from the Parliament Square at noon on December 31 and goes on till 3:00 p.m. by which time it concludes at Berkeley Street in Piccadilly. The parade features thousands of performers from different countries. And that is followed by the usual grand showcase of fireworks at the London Eye at South Bank.
When the sun finally is set to dawn on the US' most popular New Year spot — the Times Square in New York, the famous crystal time ball begins its one-minute descent accompanied by a countdown in the billboard below it. It reaches the lower end of the pole on which it descends at exactly the same time as the clock strikes 12. This event attracts millions of tourists from all corners of the world and is also telecast live. The ball drop is a tradition that has been in practice since 1906.
Hogmanay
Hogmanay is the Scots' word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. It is, however, normally only the start of a celebration which lasts through the night until the morning of New Year's Day (January 1) or, in some cases, January 2 which is a Scottish Bank Holiday.
For the Chinese
Dawning into China, the Gregorian New Year does not see as much fanfare as there would be for the widely celebrated Chinese New Year, which falls on February 14, 2010. The 15-day celebration is the most important event in the country's Lunar calendar, also adopted by countries like Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. But December 31 still spells revelry and fun at many popular haunts and is not a religious affair unlike the Chinese New Year.
Father Frost and the Snow Girl
Meanwhile, in Russia, New Year was celebrated in September until 1699, when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. It has a tradition similar to that of Christmas and Santa Claus. The New Year tree called Novogodnaya Yolka is decorated and people anticipate the arrival of Father Frost and his granddaughter The Snow Girl who leaves presents under the tree. Another popular Russian New Year's eve tradition is the countdown by the country's President to the New Year and the ringing of the Kremlin clock bell at midnight, both of which are broadcast live across the country over TV and radio.
Fireworks at the Copacabana
The South American country of Brazil supposedly has the best display of fireworks on New Year's at the famed Beach of Copacabana, with liberal amounts of music and dance along its stretch that is closed to traffic since the evening of December 31. The country has a famous tradition where people dressed in white gather at the beaches to pay homage to the Goddess of Sea - Lemanja by lighting candles and offering flowers and gifts to the sea. The city of Sao Paulo also hosts the Saint Sylvester Marathon on December 31 in which athletes from across the globe participate.
