Global 2025 Kickstarts with Kiribati: World Welcomes New Year in Style
As the clock struck twelve in Kiribati, the first country to welcome the dawn of 2025, the world eagerly awaited the theatrical rollout of fireworks and celebrations that signified the advent of the new year. With an eight-hour and 45-minute head start on India and 14 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, Kiribati set the stage for the global New Year revelry.
Following Kiribati, New Zealand, Tokelau, Tonga, and other Pacific Islands joined the festivities, eventually leading to a wave of celebrations across the globe. From the opulent fireworks displays in Dubai to the cherry blossom-laced streets of Tokyo, each city seemed to outdo the last in its spectacle.
In Kerala, India, coastal hubs like Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, and Kozhikode hosted grand celebrations. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, and outgoing Governor Arif Muhammad Khan were among the prominent figures who extended New Year wishes.
Here’s a roundup of when New Year’s Eve transpired around the world (in Indian Standard Time):
- 3:30 PM: Kiribati
- 4:30 PM: New Zealand
- 5:30 PM: Fiji, Russia
- 8:30 PM: Japan, South Korea
- 9:30 PM: China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines
- 1:30 AM: UAE, Oman, Azerbaijan
- 3:30 AM: Greece, South Africa, Cyprus, Egypt, Namibia
- 4:30 AM: Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Morocco, Congo, Malta
- 5:30 AM: UK, Ireland, Portugal
- 8:30 AM: Brazil, Argentina, Chile
- 9:30 AM: Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Venezuela, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands
- 10:30 AM: US East Coast (New York, Washington D.C.), Peru, Cuba, Bahamas
- 11:30 AM: Mexico, some parts of Canada
- 1:30 PM: US West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco)
- 3:30 PM: Hawaii, French Polynesia
- 4:30 PM: Samoa
With each chime of the midnight bell, the world bid farewell to another year and embraced the promise and opportunity that 2025 brought. As the clock ticks on, we look forward to the incredible stories and moments that the new year will unfold.
