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As each year comes to a close, we find ourselves both reflecting on the year that was and projecting for the year to come. We use celebrations and superstitions, resolutions and traditions to properly ring in the new year and bid the old year farewell. With our focus set on that big ball in Times Square, it's easy to overlook celebrations and countdowns from around the globe. This year, instead of starting our countdown at 10, we're starting it at 18…hours, that is. As we count the hours, we'll take a look at New Year's celebrations around the world as they domino to the Eastern time zone…and beyond.
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18 Hours till Midnight
Our countdown begins in the Pacific where, among other Pacific islands and Western territories, New Zealand kicks off the new year. The Kiwis celebrate the new year similarly to most cultures around the world, filled with social gatherings and dazzling fireworks displays. Perhaps the most impressive display in New Zealand can be found at the Sky Tower in Auckland City. The tower stands 1,076 feet tall—that's taller than the Eiffel Tower and the Chrysler Building.
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14 Hours till Midnight
Let's jump to Japan, where New Year's Eve, or Omisoka, has been celebrated for centuries. One popular Japanese tradition really rings in the new year—literally. At midnight, the custom calls for a bell to be rung 108 times, which symbolizes repentance for each of the 108 bonno (moral desires) identified by the Buddhist faith.
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10.5 Hours till Midnight
Here's a fun one in India, whose time zone oddly falls on the half-hour. Much like the Chinese, many Indians recognize the new year in a celebration called Diwali, which is based on the lunar Hindu calendar. Although the Indian New Year won't be celebrated on Jan. 1, many displays and celebrations are still held in major urban areas throughout the country. The Indian state of Goa is known for hosting large (and sometimes wild) festivals that include music, dancing and fireworks in its towns and on its beaches.
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9 Hours till Midnight
A very interesting tradition can be found in Moscow. As the Kremlin counts down the final seconds of the year, many Russians spend those seconds in silence, rather than cheering and making noise. During this hushed moment, Russians make wishes for the new year, and many take the time to write them out. Some take it even further by burning the written wishes, placing the ashes in a glass of champagne, then drinking this unique concoction to "ensure" the wish will come true. Cheers!
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6 Hours till Midnight
It's now 6 p.m. EST, and most Americans are prepping for parties. Meanwhile, most countries throughout Europe are bracing for 2012. The Eiffel Tower in Paris is home to a phenomenal fireworks display. In Spain, it is tradition to eat 12 grapes at midnight—one for each chime of the clock—to symbolize good luck for each month of the upcoming year. And in Denmark, many Danes wake up to piles of broken dishes outside of their homes. In fact, the more dishes the better. No, this isn't a sign of vandalism or mischief—the dishes were actually left there by friends.
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5 Hours till Midnight
Western African countries are predominantly Islamic, and Portuguese traditions are similar to those found in neighboring Spain, so perhaps the most significant celebration in the Greenwich Mean time zone occurs in England. The festivities are quite plentiful, but London may boast the most impressive display, which is centered around popular landmarks like Westminster's Big Ben and Europe's largest Ferris wheel, the London Eye.
3 Hours till Midnight
Leave it to our amigos in South America to heat things up! Brazilians get to celebrate just before we do, and while we're bundled up (especially Americans who live in the North), Brazilians will be in shorts, tank tops and swimwear. That's right, New Year's Eve in the Southern Hemisphere occurs during the summer, allowing many festivities to be held on beaches. Celebrations of Ano Novo/Reveillon (New Year's Eve) include dining, drinking, dancing and, of course, fireworks.
Wearing white is a tradition that symbolizes peace and prosperity in the coming year. Along with the customary attire, tossing items into the ocean is another luck-attracting practice common in Brazil.
1 Minute till Midnight
As the final seconds of 2011 slip away, the Times Square Ball begins its descent. People gather around TV sets, grabbing fistfuls of noisemakers as they rush to secure their New Year's kiss. When the ball finally reaches the bottom of its 60-foot pole, we finally have our chance to celebrate our new year, our way.
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While celebrations leapfrog from time zone to time zone, we all await our turn to welcome the prospects of good fortune in the new year with our own traditions. While learning about the various New Year's Eve customs is interesting, it's nice to know we have some that are truly our own. So let the big ball drop, let streamers fly, and let New Year's kisses ignite the midnight sky.