A slightly different turn of the year: curfews, fireworks without spectators and celebrations for silent heroes

As usual, Sydney in Australia kicked off the new year with colorful fireworks in front of the opera, but this time no spectators were allowed. The situation in New York’s Times Square was similar. European countries also started the end of the year quite cautiously. Parties and fireworks were canceled, naturally also the Vienna New Year’s Eve Trail. Large fireworks over the fortress were also suspended in the city of Salzburg.

The fireworks in Sydney Harbor and the Opera House lasted only seven minutes instead of twelve as the previous year. Sydney was like a ghost town, as reporters reported. In the following hours, the Asian countries gradually followed him: at 4 pm (CET) it was Japan and South Korea. The turn of the year followed at 5 p.m. in the Philippines and Malaysia, as well as in Taiwan and China.

New York: Silent Heroes Celebrate in Times Square

The American metropolis of New York traditionally welcomed the New Year in Times Square, but due to the pandemic, the famous Manhattan Square was closed to the public for the first time in decades on New Year’s Eve. When at midnight, like every year, a shiny crystal ball was lowered from a flagpole to the so-called ball drop, only a few dozen guests counted the last seconds. Among them were medical personnel and delivery men, the silent heroes of the pandemic. They experienced what could not be missed despite everything: confetti rained down and the songs “Auld Lang Syne” and “New York, New York” echoed through the streets of Manhattan.

SN / AP

Also in many European countries the New Year’s Eve celebrations were more cautious than usual due to the Crown. In Italy and France there were night curfews. France’s electronic music enthusiasts got their money’s worth: Two greats starred in online shows against the backdrop of Parisian landmarks. Electropop pioneer Jean Michel Jarre ushered in the new year at a virtual Notre-Dame. Star DJ David Guetta delighted his fans with a recorded music performance in front of the Louvre.

Also in Italy, many cities organized Internet events with Italian music stars, including rock star Gianna Nannini.

In many countries of the world, the new year began much earlier: the islands of the South Sea of ​​Samoa and Kiribati were the first in the world to enter the new year, at 11am Central European time. The New Years atmosphere was also subdued due to Corona. An hour later, fireworks went off in New Zealand. Unlike many other countries, the island nation in the South Pacific has not registered any local corona cases for more than a month. Therefore, music festivals and fireworks shows were held with no limits on the number of visitors or other restrictions.

There are also no major crown restrictions in China. However, New Year’s Eve is not particularly important to the Chinese either. According to your traditional lunar calendar, the new year doesn’t start until February. Only then is there a big wave of travel. However, fireworks went off in some cities on Friday morning.

Blockade: no exceptions in Austria

In Austria, New Years Eve parties were banned due to 24-hour exit restrictions. At the end of the year, only one household could receive a maximum from one individual from another household. Also in Germany there is a harsh lockdown for the second time since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. There was a blanket ban on selling fireworks before New Year’s Eve. In Berlin, however, firecrackers could be heard clearly and fireworks could be seen in the sky. Police said the night in the German capital was unusually quiet. Germany’s biggest New Year’s Eve party and the fireworks at the Brandenburg Gate had been canceled. Private celebrations were only allowed on a small scale.

It takes until 1pm CET on January 1 for the whole world to slide into the new year. Finally, there are the uninhabited islets of Baker Island and Howland Island in the Pacific.

Quelle: What / Dpa