New Year's celebrations from Canada and around the world
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People around the world are welcoming 2018 with traditional fireworks displays, partying and an array of local traditions.
Here’s a look at celebrations in Canada and around the world.
Australia
One of the first countries to welcome the new year was Australia, where fireworks exploded over the iconic Sydney Opera House as people watched from boats in the harbour nearby.
Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney. (Davoid Moir/Associated Press)
Indonesia
Hundreds of couples took part in a mass wedding ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, on New Year’s Eve designed to help the poor who were unable to afford a proper wedding.
A bride and groom react to their marriage documents during a mass wedding held in celebration of the New Year in Jakarta. (Dita Alangkara/Associated Press)
Canada
Despite the cold, Canadians ventured out in temperatures that felt like –30 C to ring in the new year.
Although events were cancelled in several Canadian cities, organizers forged ahead with celebrations at Montreal’s Old Port and on Grande Allée in the Quebec City — extreme cold warning were in effect for both cities.
Celebrations were punctuated by fireworks at the stroke of midnight and a light show on the Jacques Cartier Bridge
Organizers forged ahead with celebrations at Montreal’s Old Port despite the cold. (Radio-Canada)
Charlottetown found a way to hold an indoor New Year’s celebration after cancelling its annual outdoor plans.
The city partnered with basketball team Island Storm to host the first-ever family tailgate party ahead of the team’s New Year’s Eve matinee game against the Halifax Hurricanes.
The city had said Thursday that its planned celebration in Victoria Park was being cancelled due to extreme cold. According to Environment Canada, the high on Sunday was expected to be -11 C, compared to an average high of -2.2 C.
Last day of the year includes free hot dogs and a chance to watch @island_storm_basketball ! #RingInTheNewYear #PEI pic.twitter.com/ZBlc7Rb3ZK
Torontonians — undaunted by temperatures that felt like – 24 C — gathered at Nathan Phillips Square, where revellers enjoyed a Live DJ set by Hamilton performer Jessy Lanza beginning at 11:30 p.m.
The event was shortened from its usual two-hour long revelry to a half-hour celebration by the city in anticipation of bone-chilling temperatures.
Fireworks are seen at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate New Year’s. (Michael Cole/CBC)
People ice skate during New Years Eve celebrations held at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/Canadian Press)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a statement released Sunday, reflected on the country’s accomplishments in the past year, as well as its 150th anniversary of Confederation, but added “we still have a lot of hard work left to do.”
“In 2018, let’s continue to celebrate the values that unite us – openness, compassion, equality, and inclusion,” he said.
“Let’s move forward together, put those values into practice, and work to build a better future for all of us.”
Happy New Year! I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together in 2018: https://t.co/uLntPODv4J
North and South Korea
Buddhists lit candles during New Year celebrations at Jogyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea.
In some other places, the tone was more sombre. Just hours after a fireworks display over the Taedong River in Pyongyang, North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un said in a New Year’s Day speech the country had achieved the historic feat of “completing” its nuclear forces despite U.S. opposition.
A woman prays in front of lanterns to celebrate the New Year at Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Seoul. (Ahn Young-joon/Associated Press)
People enjoy as fireworks explode over the 123-storey skyscraper Lotte World Tower during New Year celebration in Seoul, South Korea on Monday. (Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)
Turkey
Some 100 people gathered outside the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, to remember victims of a New Year’s mass shooting a year ago. The group, holding carnations, observed a moment of silence for 39 people killed in the attack.
Consul General of Canada Ulric Shannon leaves a carnation outside Reina nightclub in Istanbul. (Emrah Gurel/Associated Press)
Scotland
In Scotland, a torchlight procession began Edinburgh’s famed Hogmanay New Year’s Eve celebration.
Revellers are seen in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Alex Hewitt/AP Images for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay)
Brazil
A woman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, threw flowers into the water to ask Yemanja, goddess of the sea, for good luck in the new year.
A woman offers flowers to Yemanja, goddess of the sea, for good luck in Rio de Janeiro. (Leo Correa/Associated Press)
People watch the fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during the New Year’s celebrations in Rio de Janeiro. (Leo Correa/Associated Press)
U.S.
Revelers gathered for the annual ball drop in New York’s Times Square bundled in several layers of clothes to keep warm in frigid temperatures.
Confetti drops over the crowd as the clock strikes midnight during the New Year’s celebration in Times Square. (Seth Wenig/Associated Press)
Revellers embrace in Times Square early Monday. (Craig Ruttle/Associated Press)
Article source: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/economy-finance/.premium-1.832277
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