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It is already 2023 for many countries to the east of the planet. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Thailand, among others, said goodbye to 2022. Fireworks and massive celebrations marked end-of-year events far from Covid-19 restrictions.
The celebrations to receive 2023 have already begun. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea have already said goodbye to 2022.
Many of the nations were able to resume their traditional festivities after the multiple restrictions due to Covid-19.
The European countries are preparing to receive a new year in which they hope that the war will go away from their territory. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine did not cease in the last days of 2022 with large-scale attacks by the Kremlin on kyiv.
Australia celebrates without restrictions
Lights and large-scale gatherings returned to Australia. The country took advantage of the end of the restrictions two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a great fireworks display, Sydney said goodbye to 2023. An event in which the attendance of a million people was expected. In addition, the country’s authorities estimated that 500 million viewers watched it on television.
“If we can get everyone to participate and approach next year with renewed optimism and joy, we will have been successful,” Fortunato Foti, organizer of the show, told AFP.
Thousands of fireworks were launched from the four sails of the Sydney Opera House and from the Harbor Bridge, the bridge that spans the city’s bay. Thus, it echoed its title of the “world capital of the beginning of the year”.
“This New Year’s Eve we say Sydney is back as we kick off the festivities around the world and bring in the New Year with a bang,” said Clover Moore, the city’s mayor.
Japan welcomes 2023 with Buddhist rituals
Japan also left 2022 behind. Among the traditional celebrations, one took place at the Asakusa Sensoji temple in the city of Tokyo.
There, various people swayed a bell that resounded, recalling the Buddhist belief that human beings are born with 108 worldly desires that can be eliminated with 108 chimes.
On the outskirts of the temple, a crowd waited to enter the enclosure and pray for the new year.
South Korea lights up at the turn of the year
Despite the current Covid-19 restrictions due to the huge increase in cases in China, South Koreans were able to celebrate the turn of the year.
At the Jogye Temple, multiple people lit candles during the year-end celebrations in Seoul, the capital.
At the same time, thousands of people gathered to welcome 2023 at Bosingak Pavilion in Seoul. Instead of candles, they symbolically lit their cell phone flashlights.
Malaysia cancels its countdown
Floods got in the way of Malaysian celebrations. The government made the decision to cancel its fireworks event at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, the capital, after thousands of people were displaced and a landslide killed 31 people due to the climate emergency. .
Also, the emblematic Petronas Towers of the country reduced their celebration without shows or fireworks.
Despite this, multiple people gathered to celebrate the arrival of 2023.
Thailand amazes with its fireworks
Thailand celebrated the New Year with a countdown and fireworks display over the famous Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn.
The spectacle illuminated the Chao Phraya River, the longest in the country and which runs through the capital, Bangkok.
With Reuters and AP
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