First country to enter new year
The first country to enter a new year is usually considered to be Kiribati, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. Kiribati is located just west of the International Date Line, which runs roughly through the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Because of its location, Kiribati is the first country to enter a new year, followed closely by other Pacific island nations such as Tuvalu, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands.
In Kiribati, the new year is celebrated with traditional dances, music, and feasting. The country's capital, Tarawa, hosts a large celebration at the national stadium, which includes a fireworks display and a traditional Kiribati dance performance.
Here's a rough timeline of when the new year is celebrated in different parts of the world:
- Kiribati: December 31st at 12:00 AM (UTC+12)
- Tuvalu: December 31st at 12:00 AM (UTC+12)
- Nauru: December 31st at 12:00 AM (UTC+12)
- Marshall Islands: December 31st at 12:00 AM (UTC+12)
- Australia: December 31st at 1:00 PM (UTC+10)
- New Zealand: December 31st at 3:00 PM (UTC+13)
- United States: December 31st at 6:00 PM (UTC-5)
- Europe: December 31st at 11:00 PM (UTC+0)
- Asia: December 31st at 12:00 AM (UTC+8)
Note that these times are approximate and may vary depending on the specific location within each country.