IN PHOTOS: New Year 2015 around the world

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

IN PHOTOS: New Year 2015 around the world
Countries ring in the new year – see photos of the festivities in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and more

MANILA, Philippines – Everywhere around the world, citizens are ringing in 2015, whether it’s with a large-scale fireworks display, a symbolic gathering, or a somber remembrance.

Here are photos of the new year festivities in the different countries, on this first day of 2015.

In Australia, an estimated one million people flocked to a massive fireworks display in Sydney Harbor, defying terrorist fears days after a deadly siege.

“We are celebrating that we are a multicultural, harmonious community but we will be thinking about what happened,” Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore said in reference to the deadly standoff when an Iranian-born gunman took 17 hostages in a cafe.

In Hong Kong, hundreds of thousands of people crowded the city’s promenades to watch an eight-minute pyrotechnic display after a year in which busy thoroughfares paralysed for months by pro-democracy protests.

“I think a more peaceful year would be good for everybody,” said Louis Ho, 65.
Europe’s celebrations kicked off in Moscow, where red and green fireworks lit up the sky over St Basil’s Cathedral, bringing “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd braving sub-zero conditions.

London was the latest major European city to welcome the New Year, its skyline illuminated by a thunderous 11-minute firework display in front of over 100,000 ticket holders gathered on the banks of the River Thames.

SUPERSTAR. Taylor Swift performs during New Year's Eve celebrations at New York's Times Square, New York, USA, January 1, 2015. Photo by Jason Szenes/EPA

In Paris, the Champs-Elysees was closed off to traffic to allow pedestrians to watch a visual spectacle projected onto the Arc de Triomphe before a huge firework display greeted the New Year.

Across Asia revelers celebrated with fireworks and music, with hundreds of thousands crowding near the landmark skyscraper Taipei 101 to watch performances by pop singers.

But in Malaysia, a somber mood prevailed after the crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 carrying 162 people and flooding in the northeast that has displaced almost 250,000 people.

Year-end celebrations have been cancelled, with many companies instead launching fundraising campaigns for flood victims.

In Indonesia, where most of the victims were from, New Year festivities in the capital started solemnly with a prayer for the victims while relatives gathered in Surabaya for a candlelit vigil in the hours before midnight.

Dubai celebrated the new year with a light and sound extravaganza at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, which was lit up with different-coloured panels as the clock counted down to 2015.

Watch the celebrations in Dubai here:

 

 

Watch the fireworks in Manila here:

 

 

In the US, hundreds of thousands of revelers braced chilly temperatures and poured into New York’s Times Square for the New Year party that this year features Taylor Swift.

An estimated one million people assembled on New York’s Times Square to count down to the New Year. Crowds gathered to watch the famous crystal-covered ball drop despite bitter temperatures forecast for minus 2 degrees Celsius.

Wherever you are, we wish you a happy new year.

How do you celebrate in your part of the world? Let us know in the comments below. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com

Photo of fireworks at QC Memorial Circle by Ted Claudio/Wazzup.ph

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!