All is Quiet on New Year's Day
All over the world, massive celebrations of dancing, eating, drinking and extravagant parades and firework displays mark the start of a new year. Here are the world's best New Year's Eve parties, according to The Travel Channel. (Reuters)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Travel Channel names Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as the “world's largest and wildest New Year's Eve celebration.” The festivities take place on Copacabana Beach where more than two million natives ring in the new year and pay homage to Iemanja, the goddess of the sea, wearing white, red (for romance), green (for good health), and yellow and gold (prosperity) attire. (Reuters)
Orlando
From the Magic Kingdom to MGM Studios, Orlando's theme parks offer a plethora of opportunities to ring in the new year with laser shows, parades and winter wonderlands. For those 21 and over, Pleasure Island offer's a street party that features dancing, music and gourmet food. (Reuters)
London
The free fireworks show at midnight is the big event in London on New Year's Eve, according to the Travel Channel. People from all over the world congregate to the viewing areas to see the spectacle. Revelers can continue the festivities with champagne toasts and cheerful atmospheres at any of the local clubs and pubs. (Reuters)
Sydney
Pegged by The Travel Channel as “the world's second-largest celebration,” more than one million Australians and visitors ring in the new year in Sydney Harbor with a massive, high-tech fireworks display. Afterwards boats soar down the waterfront for the Harbour of Light Parade. (Reuters)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Hogomanay or New Years Eve in Scotland is celebrated in the streets of downtown Edinburgh where partygoers can catch performances by world-renowned musical acts throughout the city center. The party doesn’t end there--the celebrating continue the next morning with the Edinburgh's 'Loony Dook' parade that concludes with participants plunging into the River Forth's icy cold waters, the One O'clock Run down the Royale Mile and dog-sledding competitions. (Reuters)
Paris
Bonne Annee! In Paris, one night isn’t enough to ring in a fresh year. They celebrate the new year for a whole month until February greeting one another with kisses, salutations and sending one another cards and gifts, according to The Travel Channel. As midnight approaches on New Year's Eve a burst of light emits from the Eiffel Tower. (Reuters)
New York City
Thousands of people head to Time Square to celebrate the new year crammed together watching popular musical acts. When the clock strikes 12:00, the famous glitzy ball descends from the top of One Time Square's 77-foot flagpole and two tons of confetti are released onto the celebratory crowd. (Reuters)