How did countries around the world celebrate New Year's?
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Despite fears of the spread of the new Coronavirus variant, countries around the world decided to celebrate the coming of 2022 with joy and optimism.
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Australians lighting fireworks in celebration of the new year
Amid the spread of the Omicron variant, a number of countries preferred to cancel their New Year's celebrations, or keep them at a minimum, while others preferred to leave them as is.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to welcome 2022. The country did have some celebrations, despite fears of the new Omicron variant. The Daily Mail said that New Zealand had a light show in Auckland.
Auckland, the country's largest city, lightened some of its restrictions this week in order to allow people to enjoy some singing and dancing.
LIVE: New Zealand welcomes in the New Year with a lightshow https://t.co/8PppgS9fnT
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2021
As for Australia, the second country to celebrate the new year, its capital Sydney hosted an impressive fireworks display, and the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge was decorated with laser lights, mixed with tens of thousands of fireworks, dazzling people the world over.
Happy New Year Australia! 🎉#Sydney pic.twitter.com/WKoC892BV0
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden_) December 31, 2021
Thailand also celebrated with an eco-friendly rice-based fireworks display.
One more from Pattaya, Thailand. Happy New Year 🎆 #NewYear2022 #Pattaya #Thailand thanks More for sharing 💥💥💥💥💥💥 pic.twitter.com/wfZL0OpyYu
— Juan Fernandez (@NewsJuan) December 31, 2021
As for Russia, people living on its eastern borders celebrated the new year nine hours before Moscow did. In his New Year's address, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country has indeed faced challenges, but Russia's citizens learned how to deal with them.
🕰 Only a few hours separate 2021 and 2022! The time is nigh!
— Russia 🇷🇺 (@Russia) December 31, 2021
🎄 By long-standing tradition Russians celebrate the #NewYear clinched in an eating marathon - but why sit inside?
A taste of the festive spirit in #Moscow 👇
📹 @mossobyanin pic.twitter.com/fMTA7sR898
In the Arab world, the Emirates and Egypt celebrated 2022 with fireworks. Many UAE citizens also visited Dubai's water fountain display, where jets of water danced to the tune of classical and modern music.
Christmas Atmosphere In Cairo
— Mo Ha Med (@MoHaMed_Rabie_M) December 29, 2021
🎄🎅🇪🇬🎁🎊🎉#Egypt #Cairo #ThisIsEgypt#بلادي_الجميلة ♥️ 🤍 🖤 #مصر pic.twitter.com/hv0AUVODnz
#abcnews #Dubai rings in the New Year pic.twitter.com/eJresShmHx
— Pitbull (@Willian87420216) December 31, 2021
Meanwhile, Iraq celebrated in its own fashion.
اجواء احتفالات رأس السنة من نينوى
— 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 (@hyd_61) December 31, 2021
. pic.twitter.com/tS7WsStxER
#العراق يحتفل بدخوله العام الجديد بطريقته الخاصة..
— رسل الخفاجي (@rusulalkhafajy) December 31, 2021
كل عام وبلدنا الحبيب بألف خير والعراقيين بألف ألف خير..
من احتفالات #شارع_المتنبي قبل قليل pic.twitter.com/qvZyZmETal
Lebanon, Syria and Palestine also had New Year's celebrations.
#صور | من احتفالات أعياد الميلاد في مدينة حيفا المحتلة، مساء اليوم. pic.twitter.com/oeZmQjVOEL
— فلسطين بوست (@plespost) December 23, 2021
With Palestinians largely being deprived of joy by the Israeli occupation, Gazans took it into their hands and crafted a bit of joy for themselves on the last day of 2021.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
