As the world prepares to bid farewell to what’s been crowned the hottest year on record, joyous crowds globally are set to usher in the new year, bringing closure to a tumultuous twelve months marked by technological advancements, climate crises, and heartbreaking conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
With the global population now exceeding eight billion, people worldwide are eagerly awaiting the transition into the new year, hoping to shed the burden of soaring living expenses and the challenges posed by widespread turmoil.
As the celebrations gear up, anticipation rises about the countries that initiate the New Year festivities first.
The Pacific Islands of Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati emerged as the frontrunners.Kiritimati Island entered 2024 at 10am GMT on December 31 – with Tonga and Samoa joining them at about 11am.
Following closely behind, New Zealand is poised to welcome the New Year at 11 AM local time, further fueling the festivity across various time zones.
The uninhabited Howland and Baker Islands, January 1 will begin at 5:30 pm IST. They will be welcoming the New Year last in the world.
Amidst the countdowns and gatherings, London anticipates a grand New Year’s Eve display, expected to captivate a staggering crowd of over 100,000 spectators attending the sold-out event.
However, the marvel of time zone distinctions serves as a gentle reminder to offer New Year greetings with humility. While some regions have been reveling in 2024 for almost half a day, others are yet to commence their celebration. Yet, this temporal disparity shouldn’t dampen the spirit of revelry but rather remind us of the interconnectedness of our global celebrations, spanning borders and time zones alike.