Much of the world said “Sayonara!” until 2020, long before the new year hits the United States – and moderate Times Square.
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread around the world – arguably making 2020 one of the worst years on record – here are a few countries that opened 2021 before us.
Samoa, Tonga and Kiritimati
The Pacific Islands are the first in the world to bring the new year. Apia, the capital of Samoa and its largest city, celebrated with music and a fireworks broadcast live on the government’s Facebook page.
The new year on the islands started at 5 am Eastern time.
And although it is next to Samoa, American Samoa is actually 25 hours behind the island – one of the last to receive 2021.
New Zealand
The kiwis played in 2021 with a fireworks show on the Auckland harbor bridge – a double celebration, as the country enjoys COVID-free status. Thousands flocked to the five-minute light show, the Evening Standard reported.
Australia
Sydney’s streets were empty, despite the city’s epic annual fireworks show on Harbor Bridge.
City officials have implemented strict COVID-19 restrictions in hopes of frustrating the crowds – and curbing the spread of the virus, news.com.au reported.
Melbourne, Australia’s second most populous city, has completely canceled out the New Year’s fireworks show due to the pandemic.
Japan
The nation’s new year began at 10 am on Thursday morning, Eastern Time. The celebration usually brings crowds to the shrines and temples to mark the holiday. This year, authorities closed the gates of Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, one of the most popular, to limit the size of the crowd.
The governor of the province, Yuriko Koike, urged residents to “emphasize life over fun”, while Tokyo fights a wave of coronavirus infections.
China
The annual Beijing light show was canceled, but thousands of people in Wuhan – where the COVID-19 outbreak originated – celebrated by throwing balloons into the air, BBC News reported.
Taiwan
The Asian country maintained the “love” theme to bring in 2021, applauding the frontline medical workers in their fireworks bonanza in the capital of Taipei, Euro News said.
The five-minute show used 16,000 fireworks and included red and blue hearts.
Russia
Russia welcomed 2021 with a large display of fireworks over the Kremlin in Moscow’s Red Square, the Telegraph reported.
In his annual speech before midnight to the nation, President Vladimir Putin urged the country to unite in its fight against the coronavirus.
Greece
Fireworks like the night sky over the Acropolis in Athens while the Greeks celebrated the new year, ABC News said on Twitter.
The Greek authorities announced before the New Year that the authorities would keep people off the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg canceled the city’s typically loud New Year’s Eve party due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, the city’s mayor, Geoff Makhubo, lit a candle on the Nelson Mandela bridge and asked residents to do the same – instead of fireworks, KSN-TV reported.
The Greek authorities announced before the New Year that the authorities would keep people off the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg canceled the city’s typically loud New Year’s Eve party due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, the city’s mayor, Geoff Makhubo, lit a candle on the Nelson Mandela bridge and asked residents to do the same – instead of fireworks, KSN-TV reported.
Germany
What is usually one of the biggest street parties in Europe, this year’s celebration at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin did not have a live audience. Berliners who still want to enjoy the music can stream it online or watch it on TV.
France
Although there were no public events in Paris, the city offered free entertainment with a virtual show broadcast live in the famous Notre Dame Cathedral by composer Jean-Michel Jarre, according to the Daily Express.
Those who went out to call in the new year were under the watchful eye of 100,000 police officers sent across the country to enforce the blocking rules, according to France24.com.
Scotland
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations were broadcast online, thanks to the help of 150 drones capturing the event, the Daily Record reported.
Scotland’s prime minister, Nicola Sturgeon, described what he hoped not to see. “No meetings, no parties at home, no first steps. Instead, we must bring 2021 into our own homes, with only our own homes, ”he said.