As the world finally prepares to welcome the New Year 2025, major celebrations will follow Earth’s specific time zones, creating a unique sequence of festivities.

The honor of being the first to ring in the New Year belongs to the island of Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, which is located in the Republic of Kiribati and is in the UTC+14 time zone. The Kiritimati Islands are followed pretty closely by the Tonga and Chatham Islands from New Zealand, where traditional cultural customs and dazzling fireworks finally mark the event.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Baker Islands and Howland Islands are the last places to celebrate the New Year. These are uninhabited areas near the United States that actually fall within the UTC-12 time zone. The unique geographical location of these particular islands ultimately results in an interesting schedule of celebrations, with some countries welcoming the New Year about 26 hours apart.

It should also be noted that major global cities such as Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York City contribute hugely to the international with iconic festivities that include the famous Sydney Harbor Fireworks, the Temple Bell Ceremonies in Tokyo and the Times Square Ball Drop from New York contribute excitement. For travel enthusiasts, flying between time zones on this day actually offers a rare opportunity to celebrate the New Year twice.

This global journey of celebration truly reflects unity in the diversity of humanity as each country showcases its unique traditions while sharing a common hope for prosperity in the coming year.

FAQs:

Which country celebrates the New Year before all other countries?
The honor of being the first to ring in the New Year belongs to the island of Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, which is located in the Republic of Kiribati and is in the UTC+14 time zone.

Which are the last places in the world to celebrate the New Year?

Among the last places to celebrate the New Year are Baker Island and Howland Island, the uninhabited areas near the United States that actually fall within the UTC–12 time zone.