Global Festivities: The World Welcomes 2025 with Fireworks and Traditions

As 2025 begins, global celebrations ensue with dazzling fireworks, cultural performances, and traditional rituals. From Sydney's iconic Harbour to New York's Times Square, cities host grand events. Despite regional disruptions, festivities symbolize hope and unity. Cultural exchanges, like China's greetings with Russia, emphasize international relations amid global tensions.

Across the globe, communities embraced the start of 2025 with extravagant celebrations. Major cities like Sydney and New York showcased spectacular fireworks, with millions gathering to witness these grand displays. Auckland led the way as the first major city to celebrate, keeping traditions alive with fireworks prominently visible from the city's peaks.

While jubilant expressions of renewal marked many regions, areas experiencing conflict such as the Middle East and Ukraine observed the New Year more somberly. In Asia, Japan prepared for the Year of the Snake, symbolic of rebirth, while celebrations in South Korea were subdued following a tragic airline accident.

In Europe, landmarks like Paris' Arc de Triomphe transformed into a stage for vibrant light shows, while stormy weather in parts of the UK dampened festivities. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro and Las Vegas prepared for millions of revelers with concerts and themed events, echoing a shared global spirit of optimism for the year ahead.

(With inputs from agencies.)