Global countdown: Which countries welcome and bid adieu to New Year 2024 first and last?
economictimes.indiatimes.comNew Year 2024, it's fascinating to explore which country will be the first to usher in the festivities and which will bid adieu to the passing year. With time zones creating a sequential tapestry of celebrations, the globe embarks on a journey into the future.
Historical Echoes of New Year Celebrations
The tradition of celebrating the New Year dates back to January 1, 153 BCE, in Rome. While initially, many Romans marked the advent of the New Year on March 1, Julius Caesar's solar-based calendar in 46 BCE established January 1 as the designated day. This practice gained widespread adoption in the Roman Empire, and the Georgian calendar, introduced in 1582, further solidified January 1 as the global New Year's day.
Want a Loan? Get cash against your Mutual Funds in 4 hoursWelcoming the New Year in Kiribati
As the clock strikes midnight and heralds the arrival of January 1, 2024, Kiribati, a country in Oceania, takes the lead in welcoming the New Year. Specifically, Kiritimati Island, also known as Christmas Island, part of Kiribati, will be the first to embrace the new dawn. At 5:00 am ET on December 31, the vibrant celebrations will commence, marking the onset of global festivities.
The Sequential Unfolding of New Year's Eve
Following Kiribati's jubilant start, the torch of New Year's celebration passes to Tonga and Samoa at 6 am ET. The momentum builds as the countdown continues, with New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and South Korea joining the chorus of revelry, each marking the arrival of New Year 2024 in its unique way.
The Culmination in American Samoa
As the world revels in the joyous transition, American Samoa, an island nation in the South Pacific, prepares to bid a final farewell to the passing year. Inhabiting
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