Much of the world said “Sayonara!” by 2020 long before the new year lands in the US – and a subdued Times Square.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to erupt around the globe – no doubt making 2020 one of the worst years on record – here are a few countries that have introduced 2021 ahead of 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 display live on the government’s Facebook page.
The new year on the islands started at 5 in the morning, 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 receive 2021.
New Zealand
The Kiwis rang in 2021 with a fireworks show on Auckland Harbor Bridge – a double celebration of how the country enjoys COVID-free status. Thousands of people gathered at the five-minute light show, Evening Standard reported.
Australia
The streets of Sydney were empty, despite the city’s annual fireworks display at Harbor Bridge.
City officials have implemented strict COVID-19 restrictions in hopes that they will prevent crowds – and that will contain the spread of the virus, news.com.au reported.
Melbourne, the second most populous city in Australia, has eliminated its New Year’s fireworks display due to the pandemic.
Japan
The new year of the nation began at 10 a.m. Thursday, Eastern Time. The feast usually sees crowds gathered at altars and temples to mark the feast. This year, officials closed the Gei Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, one of the most popular, to limit the size of the crowd.
Provincial Governor Yuriko Koike urged residents to “focus on life rather than fun,” while Tokyo faces a wave of coronavirus infections.
China
The annual light show in Beijing has been canceled, but thousands of people in Wuhan – where the COVID-19 outbreak came from – celebrated by releasing balloons into the air, BBC News reported.
Taiwan
The Asian country has kept a theme of “love” to bring in 2021, cheering front-line medical workers in its fireworks bonanza in the Taipei capital, Euro News said.
The five-minute show used 16,000 fireworks and included red and blue hearts.
Russia
Russia greeted 2021 with a massive fireworks display over the Kremlin in Moscow’s Red Square, the Telegraph reported.
In his annual midnight speech to the nation, President Vladimir Putin urged the country to unite in its fight against 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 before the New Year that authorities would keep people on the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg canceled the New Year’s bash, usually widespread due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, City Mayor Geoff Makhubo lit a candle on the Nelson Mandela Bridge and urged residents to do the same – instead of firecrackers, KSN-TV reported.
Greek officials announced before the New Year that authorities would keep people on the streets to avoid public unrest.
South Africa
Johannesburg canceled the New Year’s bash, usually widespread due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Instead, City Mayor Geoff Makhubo lit a candle on the Nelson Mandela Bridge and urged residents to do the same – instead of firecrackers, 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 was without a live audience. Berliners who still wanted to enjoy music could play it online or watch it on TV.
France
Although there were no public events in Paris, the city offered free entertainment with a virtual concert broadcast live in the famous Notre Dame Cathedral by composer Jean-Michel Jarre, according to the Daily Express.
Those who went to call in the new year were under the attention of 100,000 police officers sent across the country to enforce the blocking rules, according to France24.com.
Scotland
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay holiday was broadcast online with the help of 150 drones that captured the event, the Daily Record reported.
The Prime Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, emphasized what he expected not to see. “No meetings, no house parties, no first steps. Instead, we should bring 2021 into our own homes only with our own households, ”he said.