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The new year has already started in some Pacific islands and in New Zealand, the rest of the world will follow in the next few hours. Due to the corona pandemic, the celebrations are almost everywhere much smaller than usual.
Billions of people welcome the New Year tonight, but under Corona conditions. In some parts of the world, 2021 has already begun – residents of the South Sea islands of Samoa and Kiribati were the first to greet the New Year at 11am Central European Time (CET).
Although there should have been no corona infection in Kiribati and the first case was only reported in Samoa in mid-November, the public fireworks were canceled. Currently, foreign tourists cannot visit the South Pacific islands. Both countries are also worried about the new year due to global climate change. The storms have caused flooding in Samoa’s capital, Apia. The 3,000 islands that make up Kiribati are battling floods due to rising water levels in the Pacific.
Important events in New Zealand
On the other hand, New Zealand welcomed the New Year with a series of major music festivals and fireworks displays. Unlike many other countries, the island state has not registered any local crown cases for more than a month. Therefore, the events could take place without restrictions on the number of visitors or other restrictions related to the crown. In the country’s largest city, Auckland, there was a light show around Harbor Bridge and the Sky Tower, followed by a five-minute fireworks show at midnight. One of the biggest New Year’s Eve events is the three-day Rhythm and Vines music festival, which takes place near the town of Gisborne, in the northeast of the North Island.
It will take a total of 26 hours (11 am CET on December 31 to 1 pm CET on January 1) for everyone to slide into the New Year. After Samoa and Kiribati, it passes through Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, the east coast of the United States, California and Hawaii to the uninhabited islets of Baker Island and Howland Island again in the Pacific.
Crown restrictions in many countries
Due to the corona pandemic, many parties and fireworks were canceled around the world, for example in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Amsterdam and London. There is a large fireworks display in Sydney, but spectators are not allowed into the harbor. Anyone attempting to overcome barriers in the port area risks a fine of A $ 1,000 (about 626 euros), authorities said. Typically, the Sydney Harbor Show attracts over a million people each year.
In Moscow, despite the Corona curfew, there should be a huge fireworks display in the Kremlin starting at 11 pm local time (9 pm CET). In New York, the “Ball Drop” in Times Square, a sparkling crystal ball falling onto a pole, is said to take place in front of a few people instead of the usual thousands. There is also a curfew in Paris on New Year’s Eve. But there will be an online concert of Jean-Michel Jarre as an avatar on the virtual backdrop of Notre-Dame Cathedral and a pre-recorded donation livestream with star DJ David Guetta in front of the Louvre pyramid.
In Italy there are strong exit restrictions. Between 10 p.m. on New Years Eve and 7 a.m. on New Years morning, the 60 million citizens are even prohibited from going out with only a few exceptions. The government has banned the parties. A maximum of two adult guests from another household are allowed to sit at the table for New Years Eve dinner. Stricter exit rules also apply in Turkey.
Party in Wuhan
However, almost crownless Taiwan traditionally plans pyrotechnics in the “Taipei 101” skyscraper. In the United Arab Emirates, the tallest building in the world, the 828-meter-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is again planning a spectacular fireworks show, including a light and laser show. Events are also planned in China, where the big celebrations don’t take place until the Chinese New Year in February. Among other things, there should be fireworks in Wuhan, the location of the corona virus outbreak.
