Sydney: Glittering fireworks in the shapes of butterflies, hearts and a cascading waterfall exploded over Sydney's Harbour Bridge today as cheering revellers welcomed 2012 and bid a weary adieu to a year marred by natural disasters and economic turmoil.
More than 1.5 million people crowded onto yachts and along the shores of the city's harbour to watch the shimmering pyrotechnic display designed around the theme Time to Dream — a nod to the eagerness many felt in moving forward after the rough year.
"It's about giving people the opportunity to dream of the year ahead and that hopefully it is a bit better than the year we've had," said Aneurin Coffey, producer of Sydney's New Year's festivities.
Some of the fireworks formed the shape of clouds — "Because every cloud has a silver lining," Coffey said. Colourful lights beamed onto the centre of the bridge formed an ‘endless rainbow' symbolising hope. Many were eager for a fresh start.
"I've had enough this year," said 68-year-old Sandra Cameron, who lost nearly everything she owned when her home in Queensland state was flooded to the ceiling during a cyclone in February. "It's gotta be a better year next year."
Time-jump revelry
World leaders evoked 2011's events in their New Year's messages. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who starts his second term on New Year's Day, said he wants to help ensure and sustain the moves toward democracy that protesters sought in the Arab Spring.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the new year would be more difficult than 2011 but dealing with Europe's debt crisis would bring its countries closer. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin wished well being and prosperity to all Russians "regardless of their political persuasion" after large-scale protests against him.
The mood was festive in the South Pacific island nation of Samoa, where, for once, revellers were the first in the world to welcome the new year, rather than the last.
Samoa and neighbouring Tokelau hopped across the international date line at midnight on Thursday, skipping Friday and moving instantly to yesterday. The time-jump revelry that began at 12.01am on December 31 spilled into the night, with Samoans and tourists crowding around pools and on beaches to toast the start of 2012.
Samoa and Tokelau lie near the date line that zigzags vertically through the Pacific Ocean, and both sets of islands decided to realign themselves this year from the Americas side of the line to the Asia side, to be more in tune with key trading partners.
"Everyone is happy right now," said Mao Visita, who was celebrating at the popular Aggie Grey's hotel in the capital, Apia. "The party is still going on with plenty of music."
Things were slightly more subdued in New Zealand, where torrential rains and thunderstorms cancelled fireworks displays in the capital, Wellington, the North Island city of Palmerston North and at the popular Mount Maunganui beach area. Aucklanders had better luck, with thousands crowding the city to watch fireworks erupt from the Sky Tower.
Defining times
For Japan, 2011 was the year the nation was struck by a giant tsunami and earthquake that left an entire coastline destroyed, nearly 20,000 people dead or missing and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in meltdown.
At the year's end, many were reflecting on the fragility of life, while quietly determined to recover.
"For me, the biggest thing that defined this year was the disaster in March," said Miku Sano, 28, a nursing student in Fukushima city. "Honestly, I didn't know what to say to these people, who had to fight sickness while living in fear about ever being able to go back home. The radiation levels in the city of Fukushima, where I live, are definitely not low, and we don't know how that is going to affect our health in the future."
People in Japan spent yesterday visiting shrines and temples, offering their first prayers for the year. The giant hanging bells at temples were to ring 108 times to purify the world of evil and bring good luck.
