Revellers around the world are celebrating the end of 2011 and starting to see in 2012.
Bad weather prompted some New Zealand planners to cancel outdoor events, but a fireworks display off Auckland's Sky Tower started at midnight (1100 GMT).Sydney has also seen in the New Year with a spectacular multi-million dollar fireworks display.
Samoa and Tokelau were first to toast in 2012 after skipping a day by jumping west across the international dateline.
As the clock struck midnight as 29 December ended, the two South Pacific island nations fast-forwarded to 31 December, missing out on 30 December entirely.
Samoa announced the decision in May in a bid to improve ties with major trade partners Australia and New Zealand, and neighbouring Tokelau decided to follow suit in October.
Tourists and locals partied throughout Saturday as Samoa revelled in being the first country to ring in the new year, rather than the last.
In New Zealand, heavy rain meant celebrations in Palmerston North, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua and on Wellington's waterfront were called off, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Paris and other European cities will likely be glad to see the back of a year that has seen the continent embroiled in economic woes.
For the UK, meanwhile, New Year's Eve is just the start of a year of festivities that will include the Queen's diamond jubilee and the London Olympics.
In Brazil, revellers are set to enjoy a fireworks display on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.
And hundreds of thousands will pack into New York's Times Square later for the ceremonial ball-dropping at midnight.
0 comments:
Post a Comment