Site of one of the oldest and best-known celebrations, New York City always pulls out the stops for its widely viewed Times Square countdown party. In addition to the iconic 4-metre glitter ball that descends to mark the year’s end, the throngs of partygoers who unfailingly turn out for the event are treated to dazzling pyrotechnic and laser-light shows, big-name celebrity musical appearances and even a “wishing wall” where optimistic revellers can scribble their latest New Year’s resolutions.
In Edinburgh, Scotland, the Hoganay celebration draws thousands of spectators who come for the celebrity concerts and an electrifying fireworks display. There’s plenty of traditional ceilidh dancing that invariably spills out onto the streets during all-night festivities. The four-day celebration features a torchlight parade (the real fire variety) and - coming as no surprise, this being Scotland - the world’s biggest and loudest rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
Celebrations in Sydney, Australia are diverse and many, including indigenous smoking ceremonies, aerial flyovers with skywriting and a “floating float” parade of creatively illuminated watercraft. But the highlight is a massive dance party held at Bondi Beach and the uber-spectacular fireworks show using the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a jumbo-sized staging platform.
Though most frequent-flier programmes don’t credit miles for time-travel, a year-end holiday in Haparanda, Sweden and Tornio, Finland offers a unique déjà vu New Year experience. Separated by an international border as well as a time zone, the Finns are one hour ahead of the Swedes. This means that after counting down to midnight in Tornio, revellers can simply “step back in time” to the Swedish side and do it all over again in Haparanda. Partiers in both cities can enjoy fireworks, musical shows plus lots of traditional sausages and hot drinks. And there are plenty of local taverns and pubs offering a warm respite from the harsh Scandinavian winter.
Those seeking a more traditional calendar-transitioning ceremony are directed to London, where some quarter million partygoers line the banks of the Thames River to view the fireworks and laser shows, before erupting in a massive cheer as the iconic Big Ben clock tower strikes midnight. Parties continue well past the wee hours, and at sunrise there is a huge parade with marching bands, floats and a royal horse procession.
South America’s biggest New Year’s Eve show takes place in Valparaíso, Chile, where the coastal city lays on a huge fireworks display that features 17 launch sites running along the harbour shoreline. Festivities start on the 28th and include the Mother-of-all- beach-parties attended by upwards of a million dancing revellers. To assure yourself of good luck, do be mindful of local New Year traditions like wearing yellow underwear, eating a dozen grapes at midnight and putting a $1,000 peso note (around 50 Baht) in your shoe.
Up to 10,000 partygoers gather in the medieval Old Town quarterof Slovakia’s capital Bratislava, where open-air dance parties and massive fireworks displays play out against the backdrop of the storied and enchantingly beautiful Danube River. Nightlong concerts are held on various stages set up throughout the history-steeped districts, while chill-friendly ‘party zones’ are provided for socialising. Grab yourself a rehtackas (wooden noisemaker) and join the crowds in chasing away the past year’s negative energy.
