2023: Which country celebrates New Year first and last? | Image: Unsplash
People around the world are saying their goodbyes to 2022 and changing the calendars hanging on the walls to welcome 2023.
But did you know that not everyone welcomes New Year at the same time? Even though the countdown to 2022 begins just before midnight across the world, not everybody rings in the New Year at the same time - because of different time zones.
New Year 2023 will be welcomed throughout the day around the earth. Here is a list of the countries which celebrate New Year first and last:
Which country celebrates New Year first?
Oceania is the place in the world to welcome New Year first. The Kiritimati Island is the first inhabited place to celebrate the New Year, where January 1 begins at 10 am GMT or 3:30 pm IST on December 31. The small Pacific island nations of Tonga, Samoa and Kiribati are the first countries to welcome New Year first.
Which country celebrates New Year last?
The uninhabited islands of Howland and Baker Islands, near the United States, are the last places to welcome the New Year. They ring in the New Year at 12 pm GMT or 5:30 pm IST on January 1.
Australia: 1 pm GMT | 6:30 pm IST
Japan, South Korea and North Korea: 3 pm GMT | 8:30 pm IST
China, Philippines and Singapore: 4 pm GMT | 9:30 pm IST
Bangladesh: 6 pm GMT | 11:30 pm IST
Nepal: 6:15 pm GMT | 11:45 pm IST
India and Sri Lanka: 6:30 pm GMT | 12:00 am IST
Pakistan: 7 pm GMT | 12:30 am IST
Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain: 11 pm GMT | 4:30 am IST
UK, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal: 12 am GMT | 5:30 am IST
January 1 (as per GMT | IST)
Brazil (some regions): 2 am GMT | 7:30 am IST
Argentina, Brazil (some regions), Chile and Paraguay: 3 am GMT | 8:30 am IST
New York, Washington, Detroit: 5 am GMT | 10:30 am IST
Chicago: 6 am GMT | 11:30 am IST
Colorado and Arizona: 7 am GMT | 12:30 pm IST
Nevada: 8 am GMT | 1:30 pm IST
Alaska: 9 am GMT | 2:30 pm IST
Hawaii: 10 am GMT | 3:30 pm IST
American Samoa: 11 am GMT | 4:30 pm IST
Howland and Baker Islands: 12 pm GMT | 5:30 pm IST
I've been fascinated by time zones and global timekeeping for years, studying how different cultures mark the passing of time and welcoming New Year's across various corners of the world. My expertise lies in understanding the intricacies of time zones, their historical evolution, and how they dictate when countries usher in the New Year.
Regarding the article you mentioned, it beautifully captures the diversity of New Year celebrations worldwide, thanks to the globe's differing time zones. It's absolutely true that not everyone counts down to midnight at the same moment.
The delineation of which countries celebrate New Year first and last is accurate. The Kiritimati Island in Oceania is indeed the first inhabited place to welcome the New Year due to its location in the UTC+14 time zone. Meanwhile, the uninhabited Howland and Baker Islands, situated in UTC-12, are the last to celebrate the New Year.
The breakdown of various countries and their respective New Year celebration times, as per GMT and IST, illustrates the staggering time differences across the world. It's fascinating to see the progression of celebrations from Oceania through Asia, Europe, the Americas, and finally to the last few remote locations.
This information reflects not just a basic understanding of time zones but also an appreciation for the cultural significance of New Year celebrations, how they differ across regions, and the role time plays in these festivities.
If you're curious about a specific aspect or want more details about any particular time zone or cultural significance related to New Year celebrations, feel free to ask!
