New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world with immense fervor and zeal, with several countries globally recognized as hubs for year end festivities. This year, however, has been completely unique. With coronavirus surging through the world, New year’s eve revelry will be forcibly extinguished. Here’s a breakdown of how the world’s most famous New year’s eve hotspots will celebrate the new year.
Paris
Paris, the City of Lights, becomes even more exuberant on New Year’s Eve as it attracts hundreds and thousands of tourists from all over the world for a view of the Eiffel Tower, which displays its world famous fireworks. This year, however, France has announced it will deploy 100,000 police and gendarmes to restrain parties and gatherings while also strictly enforcing the 8pm to 6am curfew.
Berlin
Berlin’s enormous mile-long Silvester Party usually has some million attendees on New years Eve, as the free, open-air fest is pumped by live music, food, bars and DJs. Berlin will look nowhere as colorful on this New Year’s Eve, as Germany remains in partial lockdown. Authorities have advised citizens to celebrate the eve inside their homes.
Edinburgh
The Scottish capital’s traditional Hogmanay celebrations commence from 30 December and go on till 1 January with massive street parties and midnight firework displays over Edinburgh castle. On Wednesday, this year, 50,023 new cases were recorded, after which the government tightened restrictions. instructing people to ‘not mix’.
Taiwan
Hoards of people permeate Taiwan on New year’s eve to see Taipei’s 101 building’s light up from top to bottom in honor of the new year. However, following the island’s first case of the new coronavirus strain, Taiwan’s government has directed citizens to scale back on festivities and watch fireworks from home.
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Sydney
Australia’s Sydney is famous for one of the biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world, with over 1,000 fireworks bursting above the the Sydney Opera House. Currently, amid rising infection rates, people have been instructed to stay home and avoid the famous display.
New Zealand
New Zealand has managed to put an end to the virus within the country after strict, lengthy lockdowns. As a result, it is likely that new year celebrations will proceed as they usually do, with Queenstown’s vigor and animation.
New York City
The world famous ball drop over New York’s Times Square remains one of the world’s most iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations, drawing about a million visitors every year. NYC authorities have announced that Times Square will not be open to the public this year, although the ball dropping ceremony will take place albeit amid empty streets.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio’s Copacabana Beach on New Year’s Eve draws more than 2 million attendees as Brazilians traditionally wear white to usher in good luck. However, this New Year’s Eve, authorities announced that they would block beach access the night of December 31 to prevent crowds and gatherings.
Dubai
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is one of the most glamorous skyscrapers in the world, especially on New year’s Eve as it hosts the world’s largest fireworks display. This year, restrictions will be imposed all over the city with ‘activated control teams’ to ensure compliance.
Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, celebrity-hosted nightclub parties, world-class dinner shows and vivacious casinos are filled to the brim on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve celebrations are currently to be restricted in the city, with fireworks being cancelled.
