The fireworks over the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge took place this year – tens of thousands watched from 30 vantage points.
(Photo: dpa)
Sydney / Wellington In some countries the new year has already started. The inhabitants of the South Seas paradises Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were the first in the world to welcome the year 2022 at 11 a.m. CET. In contrast to last year, when public fireworks were canceled due to the corona pandemic, firecrackers were again allowed to be shot in the sky in Samoa. So far, only half a dozen corona cases have been reported in the three island states.
New Zealand followed an hour later, but due to the spread of Corona, most events and the fireworks from the Sky Tower in Auckland as well as all public events in other cities such as Christchurch and the capital Wellington were canceled. Only the three-day music festival “Rhythm and Alps” near Wanaka on the South Island was allowed to take place.
In Sydney, on the other hand, tens of thousands of spectators were again admitted to the colorful fireworks in front of the backdrop of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House – unlike last year. Interested parties had to buy a ticket in advance for one of around 30 viewpoints. The concerns of many citizens were great: In the state of New South Wales, in which Sydney is located, the corona numbers are exploding due to the spread of the omicron variant: On Friday, the authorities reported more than 21,000 new infections.
In Thailand – one of the few long-distance destinations where numerous tourists are currently staying – many restaurants are exceptionally allowed to open until 1.00 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and until then they can also serve alcohol. A concert with the Italian star tenor Andrea Bocelli was planned on the largest island of Phuket. The new year starts at 6.00 p.m. CET.
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In Germany, millions prepared for the evening in the course of the day – but unlike in 2020 without a real lockdown. However, there are contact restrictions for private meetings, mainly due to fear of the rapid spread of the omicron variant.
In addition, this time there was again a general ban on the sale of fireworks in the last days of the year. The main aim is to relieve the hospitals of additional patients. In some cities, gunfire is completely forbidden in certain areas. The police have announced increased controls.
The largest New Year’s Eve party in the republic in Berlin is also canceled this time – including high-altitude fireworks over the Brandenburg Gate that are suitable for television. The ZDF broadcasts a show from there.
Many big parties and fireworks have been canceled around the world, for example in Paris. Elsewhere, celebrations have been scaled down, including Rio.
It will take 26 hours again between 11 a.m. CET on December 31 and 1 p.m. CET on January 1 for the whole globe to slide into the New Year. It began in the Pacific island states of Samoa and Kiribati, continues through New Zealand, Australia and Asia to Europe, South America, the US east coast, California, Hawaii to the uninhabited islets of Baker Island and Howland Island again in the Pacific.
More: Fireworks ban on New Year’s Eve: Industry fears “death blow”