By Astha Rajvanshi and Dennis Romero
Traditions were upheld, good luck rituals observed, and champagne corks popped as revelers around the world rang in 2025 in their own unique ways on Wednesday morning.
An estimated million-plus people gathered in New York City's Times Square on Tuesday night for the iconic midnight ball drop, with an increased police presence ensuring safety.
The ball descended 139 feet, accompanied by a medley of songs, including "Auld Lang Syne" and Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York." The Times Square plaza, surrounded by towering high-rises and illuminated digital billboards, lit up as the official billboard displayed "2025."
Alongside the ball drop, nearly 3,000 pounds of confetti were released from nearby rooftops, some featuring New Year's wishes sent to Times Square.
The New York Police Department reported no arrests or major incidents following the celebrations. The global transition to the New Year started well before New York’s big moment. In total, it takes 26 hours for the entire world to welcome the New Year across 39 time zones. In Chicago, 2025 was welcomed with two public fireworks shows near the water – one at Navy Pier and another at Riverwalk by the Chicago River.
Dallas faced a setback as it was forced to cancel its planned drone show. The company responsible for the drones, Sky Elements, had been involved in a previous incident in Orlando, where a drone collision injured a child, leading to an FAA investigation.
Nonetheless, the Reunion Tower in Dallas still celebrated with its annual Lone Star NYE event, featuring over 5,000 fireworks and a 259-LED light display.
In the South Pacific, New Zealand led the way in bidding farewell to 2024, as its midnight arrives 18 hours ahead of Eastern Time.
In parts of Asia, millions prepared for the Year of the Snake, a symbol of rebirth in the Chinese zodiac. In Japan, stores sold snake-themed goods, while temples and homes underwent deep cleaning. Thailand’s celebrations included nationwide fireworks, with a spectacular show over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. The country's tourism board streamed the event live, showcasing performances before the midnight countdown.
In South Korea, the mood was somber following the tragic crash of a Jeju Air flight in Muan on Sunday, which claimed 179 lives. Many celebrations were muted or canceled, as the nation observed a period of mourning. In Israel, New Year’s came amid the ongoing war in Gaza, now entering its 15th month. Thousands remain in captivity, and over 45,000 people have died in Gaza since the conflict began, according to the health ministry.
Lebanon, struggling with an ongoing economic crisis, and Syria, grappling with cautious optimism following the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, also marked the New Year in quieter, more reflective ways.
In contrast, Dubai welcomed 2025 with a dazzling display. The Burj Khalifa tower lit up with spectacular animations as fireworks painted the sky above the lavish city.
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