Much of the world said, “Sayonara!” until 2020 long before the New Year landed in the US – and an understated Times Square.
As the COVID-19 pandemic is raging around the world – undoubtedly making 2020 one of the worst years on record – here are some countries that ushered in 2021 for us.
Samoa, Tonga and Kiritimati
The Pacific Islands are the first in the world to usher in the New Year. Apia, Samoa’s capital and largest city, was celebrated with music and a fireworks livestream on the government Facebook page.
The New Year on the islands started at 5 a.m. Eastern time.
And while it’s 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 rang in 2021 with a fireworks display on the Auckland Harbor Bridge – sort of a double celebration as the country has COVID-free status. Thousands gathered for the five-minute light show, the Evening Standard reported.
Australia
Sydney’s streets were empty despite the city’s annual epic fireworks display at Harbor Bridge.
City officials introduced strict COVID-19 restrictions in hopes of thwarting the crowds – and limiting the spread of the virus, news.com.au reported.
Melbourne, Australia’s second most populous city, didn’t endure the New Year’s Day fireworks display at all due to the pandemic.
Japan
The nation’s New Year kicked off Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The celebration typically sees crowds flocking to shrines and temples to mark the holiday. This year, officials closed the gates of Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, one of the most popular, to limit the crowd.
Provincial Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to “put life above pleasure,” as Tokyo grapples with a wave of coronavirus infections.
China
Beijing’s annual light show was canceled, but thousands of people in Wuhan – where the COVID-19 outbreak began – were celebrated by releasing balloons, BBC News reported.
Taiwan
The Asian country stuck to a theme of “ love ” to cheer on primary care workers in its fireworks bonanza in the capital Taipei in 2021, Euro News said.
The five-minute show used 16,000 fireworks and included red and blue hearts.
Russia
Russia welcomed 2021 with a massive fireworks display over the Kremlin in Moscow’s Red Square, the Telegraph reported.
In his annual pre-midnight spell to the nation, President Vladimir Putin urged the country to unite in the fight against the coronavirus.
Greece
Fireworks like the night sky over the Acropolis in Athens as the Greeks celebrated the New Year, ABC News said on Twitter.
Greek officials announced ahead of the New Year that authorities would keep people off the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg canceled the city’s typically raucous New Year’s Eve celebration due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, Mayor Geoff Makhubo lit a candle on Nelson Mandela Bridge and urged residents to do the same – instead of fireworks, KSN-TV reported.
Greek officials announced ahead of the New Year that authorities would keep people off the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg canceled the city’s typically raucous New Year’s Eve celebration due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, Mayor Geoff Makhubo lit a candle on the Nelson Mandela Bridge and urged residents to do the same – instead of fireworks, KSN-TV reported.
Germany
What is usually one of the biggest street parties in Europe was celebrated this year at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin without a live audience. Berliners who still wanted to enjoy the music could stream it online or watch it on TV.
France
While there were no public events in Paris, the city offered free entertainment with a live-streamed virtual concert at the famous Notre Dame Cathedral by composer Jean-Michel Jarre, according to the Daily Express.
According to France24.com, those who would ring the bell in the new year were under the watchful eye of 100,000 police officers sent across the country to enforce the lockdown rules.
Scotland
The Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh were broadcast online, thanks to the help of 150 drones that captured the event, the Daily Record reported.
The Prime Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, outlined what he did not expect to see. “No gatherings, no house parties, no first-class. Instead, we should bring 2021 into our own homes using only our own households, ”he said.