Crowds celebrate New Year across the world
Across UK celebration took place at popular city locations including London, the mass at Hogmanay events in Edinburgh attended by 75, 000 people, under tight security. New Year fireworks in London, sending the message to the world that “London is open” particularly post-Brexit. Big Ben heralded the start of the new year 2017, with 12, 000 fireworks, producing 50, 000 projectiles over 12 minutes. The event costing £1.8m at River Thames with 110, 000 lucky spectators from 100 countries descending on the city centre to enjoy the fire works.
As the Big Ben struck twelve with a leap second delay added in by scientists, loud music began to play and fireworks were launched from the London Eye and three barrages and 14 pontoons on the river Thames.
Tonga and Samoa in the Polynesian Triangle followed by New Zealand and Australia are among the first in the world to see in the New Year with fireworks set to go off at 10 am GMT on Saturday December 31st.The last place on Earth to see the New Year are minor outlaying US islands like Bake Island is American Samoa which will welcome 2017 when it’s 11 am in London on January 1st.
Australia celebrated New Year with the famous Sydney firework show,
Russia celebrated New Year several times because of its various time zones, 2017 was welcomed with stunning firework and light show.
Japan where temple bells echoed at midnight at 3pm GMT as families flocked to shrines to welcome the new year.
Beijing and Shanghai, passed New Year at 4 pm GMT .
Millions of people across the world have taken to streets, and in India many took to street, although New Year as per the Christian tradition on 1st January every year, India celebrates this special day as per the Hindu Lunar Calendar Panchanga, as per Hindu mythology and calendar, the seasons follow sun, months follow moon and days follow both moon and sun. So the New Year is celebrated as per the position of the sun and moon and the New Year begin with first day of Kartik Mass. There is separate New Year days in various parts of India reflecting its rich culture.
European capitals celebrated new year in Madrid, Warsaw, in Cologne, Germany fireworks explode near to the High Cathedral of Saint Peter and in Paris Fire works on the Arc de Triomphe celebrated new year.
Cairo marks the beginning of 2017 with fireworks display behind the pyramids.
Mass kissing in Venice at St Mark’s Square with big firework display over the Basin of St Mark.
Bear Dances in Romania where people donning bear costumes and furs and dancing from house to house, in an attempt to keep evil at bay.
Possum-dropping in Brasstown in North Carolina, where a transparent box is lowered over a noisy crowd, in the world’s only known “possum-drop”.
In Chile, Talaca the locals like to see in the new year in the company of their dead relatives.
British PM Theresa May looks ahead to what 2017 has in store for the country.
Happy New Year from the Saturn Herald.