The land down under does it up for the New Year. From small town celebrations to worldwide fanfare, let’s take a peak at how Australia rings it in. First, there are some simple things. Where a Waterford Crystal ball sliding down a pole is part of a North American countdown, the Aussie’s count up—making noise with the 12 rings of a church bell. (Maybe one for every passing month?) The sound brings thousands to their feet to cheer, hug, kiss and play various instruments. The bell strikes are the first of a wave of musical merrymaking marking the turning of the year.
Following the Gregorian calendar, Aussies celebrate the New Year on January 1st. But why stop there? Not only does the celebration continue until January 6th, the festivities are such good time that Australia ushers in masses of travelers expressly for the holiday hoopla. Maybe because Australians have the privilege of hosting one of the first New Year’s celebrations in the world due to its geographical location (and a little thing called time zones.) For this reason, the spectacular Midnight Fireworks—hailed as one of the best pyrotechnic shows on earth—is broadcast all over the world and viewed by up to 1 billion strong. And since the light show made by exploding gunpowder originated in 7th century China, it’s no wonder Australia has a strong Chinese influence. Festivities ignite again all over Australia for Chinese New Year as many communities put on lively parades and parties for up to 15 days of celebrations. As if it’s not enough to be the first host and offer the best light show, to top it off, Australian New Year celebrations have the pleasure of warm weather. Locals create their own kind of light show, building fantastic bonfires along the beaches. Beautiful Bondi Beach, a stop on our Sydney tour, is a magnet for surfers around the season. Talk about kicking in the New Year with a splash!