New Year’s Eve around the world in photos
MANILA, Philippines — In the Philippines, merrymakers like to greet the new year with a loud bang. Local traditions and superstitions encourage people to wear clothes with polka-dot prints, display round fruits at the table and make a lot of noise. Revelers light firecrackers on almost every street in the neighborhood. The louder the noise, the better.
How is New Year’s Eve celebrated around the world? We compiled photos of celebrations, countdowns and other festivities held around the globe, to catch a glimpse of what it was like when the clock struck 12.
1. Manila, PHILIPPINES
Fireworks light up the sky as Filipinos welcome the new year Thursday, Jan.1, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. Traditionally Filipinos welcome the new year with firecrackers, fireworks and almost anything to make the loudest noise possible. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
2. New York, UNITED STATES
Fireworks erupt after midnight in Times Square during the New Year’s Eve celebration, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in New York. Thousands braved the cold to watch the annual ball drop and ring in the new year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
3. Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
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People watch fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
4. Baghdad, IRAQ
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Iraqis gather to celebrate the new year in Baghdad, Iraq, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. In Iraq’s war-scarred capital, authorities ordered a one-off lifting of the overnight curfew in force for more than a decade to allow the city’s revelers to stay out late on the streets. Traffic was unusually heavy starting shortly after sunset and authorities closed commercial streets to vehicles in the city’s center as a precaution against possible suicide bombings by militants of the Islamic State terror group. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
5. Moscow, RUSSIA
Fireworks explode over the St. Basil Cathedral as people celebrate the new year at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
6. Paris, FRANCE
Revelers photograph fireworks over the Arc de Triomphe as they celebrate New Year’s Eve on the Champs Elysees in Paris, France, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
7. London, UNITED KINGDOM
Fireworks explode over the clock known as ‘Big Ben’ housed in Elizabeth Tower, to celebrate the new year in London, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
8. Pyongyang, NORTH KOREA
North Koreans gather at the Kim Il Sung Square to watch a fireworks display as they usher in the new year, Thursday Jan. 1, 2015 in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Jon Chol Jin)
9. Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
Buddhists light candles during New Year’s celebrations at Jogye Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon)
10. Toronto, CANADA
Fireworks explode in front of City Hall as revelers pack Nathan Phillips Square for New Year’s celebrations in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)
11. Tokyo, JAPAN
A visitor walks near some New Year’s good luck decorations after praying during “hatsumode,” or the first visit of the year, at Kawasaki Daishi temple in Kawasaki near Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
12. Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Fireworks explode over the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. Thousands of people crammed into Lady Macquaries Chair look-out to see the new year in and watch the annual fireworks show. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
13. Skopje, MACEDONIA
Fireworks explode over the Archaeological Museum building in Skopje, Macedonia, during the New Year’s celebrations early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
14. Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
People light firework as they celebrate the new year in a main party zone in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)
15. HONG KONG
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbor as residents and tourists ring in the new year in Hong Kong, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
16. Quito, ECUADOR
Masks are on sale for the New Year’s Eve celebration on a street in Quito, Ecuador, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. The masks are sold to revelers for about $2, while men dressed as women partake In the “Viudas del año Viejo” or Old Year’s Widows tradition, in which they go around city streets, dance and sing for drivers, and in exchange receive a couple of coins for their troubles. (AP Photo/Ana Maria Buitron)
17. Yangon, MYANMAR
Merrymakers gather to celebrate the arrival of the new year at National Kandawgyi park while the Shwedagon pagoda is illuminated in Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, Jan.1, 2015. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
18. Islamabad, PAKISTAN
Children displaced from Pakistani tribal areas due to fighting between security forces and militants play under a tree during the last sunset of the year on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
19. Beijing, CHINA
Chinese people are showered by confetti as they celebrate the new year in front of the National Stadium illuminated with lights and the words “Happy New Year” during a new year’s countdown event in Beijing, China Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. Organizers showcase Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympics bid to kick off the new year. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
20. Frankfurt, GERMANY
Fireworks explode during New Year’s celebrations near the new headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
21. Beirut, LEBANON
A man holds a heart-shaped hot-air balloon during the New Year’s celebrations in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
