New Year

At midnight on December 31, Kuala Lumpur does something no other city on earth can: it sets off a fireworks spectacular around the Petronas Twin Towers — 452 meters of

Every month, Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan hosts one of the world’s most famous beach parties — the Full Moon Party. But the New Year’s Eve edition is something

Goa on New Year’s Eve is India’s biggest party — a coastline that transforms every December 31 into a festival of beach shacks, bonfires, electronic music, and fireworks over the

Bali on New Year’s Eve is two celebrations in one: a world-class beach-party scene with fireworks over the Indian Ocean, and a deeply spiritual island where temples mark the turning

Amsterdam does New Year’s Eve the Dutch way: loudly, outdoors, and without much regard for the cold. When midnight strikes, the entire city seems to ignite at once — the

There is no city on earth that takes New Year’s Eve quite as seriously — or quite as elegantly — as Vienna. While other capitals settle for a fireworks show

There are harbor fireworks, and then there is Victoria Harbour on New Year’s Eve — a skyscraper canyon on two shores, a stretch of black water between them, and at

Every December 31, at the stroke of midnight, one of the world’s great skyscrapers becomes the world’s largest firework. The Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks — launched from the

On January 1, China wakes up to a holiday with an ancient name and a thoroughly modern mood. Yuandan (元旦) — literally “the first dawn” or “day one” — is

There is a moment on the morning of January 1 when Japan holds its breath. On cold beaches, mountain ridgelines, temple steps, and the observation decks of skyscrapers, thousands of

In South Korea, the turn of the year arrives with the steam rising off a bowl of soup. On New Year’s morning, families across the country sit down to tteokguk

As the old year dies in Japan, the country does not count down with fireworks alone. It listens. In temples from Hokkaido to Okinawa, a great bronze bell swings, a