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| New Zealand’s Auckland is the first major city to welcome 2025 with fireworks and light show |
| 2024-12-31 |
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Auckland has become the first major city to welcome 2025, with thousands of revelers counting down to the new year and cheering at colorful fireworks launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, and a spectacular downtown light show. Thousands also thronged to downtown or climbed the city’s ring of volcanic peaks for a fireworks vantage point, and a light display recognizing Auckland’s Indigenous tribes. It follows a year marked by protests over Māori rights in the nation of 5 million. Countries in the South Pacific Ocean are the first to ring in the New Year, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square in New York. Other cities around the world are readying with celebrations highlighting local cultures and traditions, after a year roiled by ongoing conflict and political instability. In Australia, more than 1 million people are now expected at Sydney Harbor for the traditional fireworks. British pop star Robbie Williams will lead a singalong and Indigenous ceremonies and performances will acknowledge the land’s first people. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #5 Should have a giant face diaper bonfire. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2024-12-31 13:33 |
| #4 Before then they celebrated New Year’s Day on March 25. I would have thought March 17 was more appropriate. The world welcomes 2025 with a bang! Spectacular fireworks light up Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong and Bangkok as millions celebrate New Year - while Brits brace for torrential rain and 70mph winds |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2024-12-31 13:15 |
| #3 ^ oops was me |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2024-12-31 09:42 |
| #2 Pope Gregory XIII introduced a revised calendar in 1582. In addition to solving the issue with leap years, the Gregorian calendar restored January 1 as the start of the New Year. While Italy, France, and Spain were among the countries that immediately accepted the new calendar, Protestant and Orthodox nations were slow to adopt it. Great Britain and its American colonies did not begin following the Gregorian calendar until 1752. Before then they celebrated New Year’s Day on March 25. - www.britannica.com |
| Posted by: Goober Sputer9323 2024-12-31 09:42 |
| #1 A nice start for the day! |
| Posted by: Bobby 2024-12-31 08:42 |