Worldwide New Year celebrations
January 1, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE mood was festive in the South Pacific island nation of Samoa, where, for once, revelers were the first in the world to welcome the new year, rather than the last.
Samoa and neighboring Tokelau hopped across the international date line at midnight on Thursday, skipping Friday and moving instantly to Saturday. The time-jump revelry that began at 12:01am on December 31 spilled into the night, with Samoans and tourists crowding around pools and on beaches to toast the start of 2012.
Samoa and Tokelau lie near the date line that zigzags vertically through the Pacific Ocean. Both sets of islands decided to realign themselves this year from the Americas side to the Asia side, to be more in tune with key trading partners.
"Everyone is happy," said Mao Visita, who celebrated at a hotel in the capital, Apia.
Glittering fireworks in the shapes of butterflies, hearts and a cascading waterfall exploded over Sydney's Harbour Bridge as cheering revelers welcomed 2012 and bid a weary adieu to a year marred by natural disasters and economic turmoil.
More than 1.5 million people crowded onto yachts and along the shores of the city's harbor to watch the shimmering pyrotechnic display designed around the theme "Time to Dream" -- a nod to the eagerness many felt in moving forward after the rough year.
"It's about giving people the opportunity to dream of the year ahead and that hopefully it is a bit better than the year we've had," said Aneurin Coffey, producer of Sydney's New Year's festivities.
Some of the fireworks formed the shape of clouds, "Because every cloud has a silver lining," Coffey said.
Colorful lights beamed onto the center of the bridge, forming an "endless rainbow" symbolizing hope.
Many said they were eager for a fresh start.
For Japan, 2011 was the year the nation was struck by a giant tsunami and earthquake that left an entire coastline destroyed, nearly 20,000 people dead or missing and the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in meltdown.
At the year's end, many were reflecting on the fragility of life, while quietly determined to recover.
"For me, the biggest thing that defined this year was the disaster in March," said Miku Sano, 28, a nursing student in Fukushima city. "Honestly, I didn't know what to say to these people, who had to fight sickness while living in fear about ever being able to go back home. The radiation levels in the city of Fukushima, where I live, are definitely not low, and we don't know how that is going to affect our health in the future."
People in Japan visited shrines and temples, offering their first prayers for the year. The giant hanging bells at temples were to ring 108 times to purify the world of evil and bring good luck.
University student Kouichi Takayama said 2011 was a year he would never forget.
"It was a year I felt the preciousness of life," he said. "But I was also able to catch a glimpse of the warmth of human relations."
In Hong Kong, more than 400,000 people watched a 4-minute, US$1 million display of fireworks shot from 10 skyscrapers, lighting up Victoria Harbor.
Raymond Lo, a master of feng shui -- the Chinese art of arranging objects and choosing dates to improve luck - said he wasn't surprised that 2011 was such a tumultuous year because it was associated with the natural elements of metal and wood. The year's natural disasters were foreshadowed, Lo said, because wood - which represents trees and nature - was attacked by metal.
2012 could be better because it's associated with ocean water, which represents energy and drive and the washing away of old habits, Lo said.
"Big water also means charity, generosity," Lo said. "Therefore that means sharing. That means maybe the big tycoons will share some of their wealth."
More than 200 people have been injured by illegal firecrackers and celebratory gunfire in the Philippines despite a government scare campaign against reckless New Year revelries, officials said yesterday.
Stray bullets wounded eight people and 197 were injured by powerful firecrackers from December 21 to 30, Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said.
He added that more than half of the victims were children. At least 14 had to undergo amputations, mostly of fingers, because of their injuries.
Officials fear the number of injuries may rise as superstitious Filipinos bid goodbye to a year of natural disasters and economic uncertainty.
Many Filipinos, influenced by Chinese traditions, believe that noisy New Year's celebrations will drive away evil spirits and misfortune.
Samoa and neighboring Tokelau hopped across the international date line at midnight on Thursday, skipping Friday and moving instantly to Saturday. The time-jump revelry that began at 12:01am on December 31 spilled into the night, with Samoans and tourists crowding around pools and on beaches to toast the start of 2012.
Samoa and Tokelau lie near the date line that zigzags vertically through the Pacific Ocean. Both sets of islands decided to realign themselves this year from the Americas side to the Asia side, to be more in tune with key trading partners.
"Everyone is happy," said Mao Visita, who celebrated at a hotel in the capital, Apia.
Glittering fireworks in the shapes of butterflies, hearts and a cascading waterfall exploded over Sydney's Harbour Bridge as cheering revelers welcomed 2012 and bid a weary adieu to a year marred by natural disasters and economic turmoil.
More than 1.5 million people crowded onto yachts and along the shores of the city's harbor to watch the shimmering pyrotechnic display designed around the theme "Time to Dream" -- a nod to the eagerness many felt in moving forward after the rough year.
"It's about giving people the opportunity to dream of the year ahead and that hopefully it is a bit better than the year we've had," said Aneurin Coffey, producer of Sydney's New Year's festivities.
Some of the fireworks formed the shape of clouds, "Because every cloud has a silver lining," Coffey said.
Colorful lights beamed onto the center of the bridge, forming an "endless rainbow" symbolizing hope.
Many said they were eager for a fresh start.
For Japan, 2011 was the year the nation was struck by a giant tsunami and earthquake that left an entire coastline destroyed, nearly 20,000 people dead or missing and the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in meltdown.
At the year's end, many were reflecting on the fragility of life, while quietly determined to recover.
"For me, the biggest thing that defined this year was the disaster in March," said Miku Sano, 28, a nursing student in Fukushima city. "Honestly, I didn't know what to say to these people, who had to fight sickness while living in fear about ever being able to go back home. The radiation levels in the city of Fukushima, where I live, are definitely not low, and we don't know how that is going to affect our health in the future."
People in Japan visited shrines and temples, offering their first prayers for the year. The giant hanging bells at temples were to ring 108 times to purify the world of evil and bring good luck.
University student Kouichi Takayama said 2011 was a year he would never forget.
"It was a year I felt the preciousness of life," he said. "But I was also able to catch a glimpse of the warmth of human relations."
In Hong Kong, more than 400,000 people watched a 4-minute, US$1 million display of fireworks shot from 10 skyscrapers, lighting up Victoria Harbor.
Raymond Lo, a master of feng shui -- the Chinese art of arranging objects and choosing dates to improve luck - said he wasn't surprised that 2011 was such a tumultuous year because it was associated with the natural elements of metal and wood. The year's natural disasters were foreshadowed, Lo said, because wood - which represents trees and nature - was attacked by metal.
2012 could be better because it's associated with ocean water, which represents energy and drive and the washing away of old habits, Lo said.
"Big water also means charity, generosity," Lo said. "Therefore that means sharing. That means maybe the big tycoons will share some of their wealth."
More than 200 people have been injured by illegal firecrackers and celebratory gunfire in the Philippines despite a government scare campaign against reckless New Year revelries, officials said yesterday.
Stray bullets wounded eight people and 197 were injured by powerful firecrackers from December 21 to 30, Health Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said.
He added that more than half of the victims were children. At least 14 had to undergo amputations, mostly of fingers, because of their injuries.
Officials fear the number of injuries may rise as superstitious Filipinos bid goodbye to a year of natural disasters and economic uncertainty.
Many Filipinos, influenced by Chinese traditions, believe that noisy New Year's celebrations will drive away evil spirits and misfortune.
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