After this, 2025 arrived in Australia and Japan, two of the countries recognized for their early New Year celebrations that were colored between fireworks for the occasion. The videos of the first celebrations quickly went viral in the social networks.
The first celebrations for the arrival of the New Year
The arrival of the New Year is a global event that is celebrated over a 24-hour period due to differences in time zones around the planet. In this context, the first country to welcome 2025 was Kiribatian archipelago, located in the Central Pacific, very close to the International Date Line, a convention that divides the planet into consecutive days.
After this, the typical celebrations came to Japan and Australia, two of the countries most recognized for their New Year’s Eve celebrations.
In the case of Australia, the oceanic country received 2025 with a incredible fireworks show in the famous Sydney Bay. There, more than a million people gathered in the city’s emblematic port to celebrate the beginning of a New Year, in a show that featured the participation of the renowned British singer, Robbie Williams.
In total, approximately nine tons of fireworks were lit, illuminating the sky where the world-renowned Sydney Opera House. In addition, the celebration in the self-proclaimed “New Year capital of the world” also included different ceremonies and performances related to the Australian indigenous peoples.
Then it was time to Auckland, New Zealand, that received 2025 with thousands of people counting down in the vicinity of the Sky Towerthe tallest structure in the country, between fireworks and a light show in the city center.
For its part, Japan also celebrated the arrival of the year of the wooden snake. Much of the country closed its doors in advance of the most important holiday. In this scenario, temples and homes were subjected to extensive cleaning, which included hitting the floor mats called “tatami” with large sticks.
Which countries receive the New Year first and last
The first country to welcome the New Year is Kiribati, specifically its Kiritimati Island or Christmas Island. This archipelago, located in the central Pacific, benefits from its strategic position east of the International Date Change Line.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this line works as a time boundary that separates two consecutive days: crossing it to the west means moving forward one day, while crossing it to the east means going backwards. In this sense, These are the countries that first celebrate the arrival of 2025:
- Kiribati
- Samoa
- Tonga
- New Zealand
- Fiji
- Australia
- Papua New Guinea
- Japan
At the other end of the International Date Line, are the last territories on the planet to welcome the New Year. Located in the central Pacific, these islands remain almost a full day behind Kiribati and Samoa.
- Howland and Baker Islands: the last territories to cross into the New Year, although uninhabited.
- American Samoa
- Hawaii (United States)
- Tahiti (French Polynesia)
- Alaska (United States)
- Cook Islands (New Zealand)
- Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom)
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
