Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands (including Kiritimati, or Christmas Island), is the first country to welcome the New Year, thanks to its location just west of the International Date Line and its UTC+14 time zone, making it the earliest time zone in the world. Other Pacific nations like Samoa, Tonga, and Tokelau are among the next to celebrate, with Kiribati leading the way by several hours before major countries like New Zealand and Australia.
Countries across the globe are beginning to usher in 2026. The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first to ring in the new year, while Alaska and Hawaii will be among the last places to say goodbye to 2025.
According to the clock, the first areas to experience a new day and a New Year are islands that use UTC+14:00. These include portions of the Republic of Kiribati, including Millennium Island and Kiritimati in the Line Islands.
What is the first country to get into the New Year?
The first country to welcome the New Year is consistently Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island), due to its location in the UTC+14 time zone, the earliest on Earth, making it the first inhabited land to cross the International Date Line into January 1st. While some uninhabited territories technically see the new day first, Kiribati is the first nation to celebrate, followed shortly by Samoa and Tonga.
The first country to enter 2025 is the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands like Kiritimati (Christmas Island), which are in the UTC+14 time zone, making them the earliest to see the new year before other nations. They welcome January 1st hours before most of the world due to their location just west of the International Date Line.
How Different Countries Celebrate the New Year Around the World | Vantage with Palki Sharma
Which country is the first to start the year?
The first country to start the year is the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island), which are in the earliest time zone (UTC+14). This allows Kiribati to welcome the New Year hours before most other places, as its easternmost islands cross the International Date Line first.
The Gregorian calendar, currently used in most countries, is derived from the Hebrew calendar, where Sunday is considered the beginning of the week. Although in Judaism the Sabbath is on Saturday, while in Christianity it is on Sunday, Sunday is considered the beginning of the week in both religious traditions.
The first places to have entered into Christmas were Samoa and Kiribati's appositely-named Christmas Island. A whole day later, Samoan Islands on the other side of the international Date Line will finally enter their own Christmas Day.
Which country is the first to enter into the New Year?
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands (including Kiritimati or Christmas Island), is the first country to enter the new year due to its location just west of the International Date Line, placing it in the earliest time zone, UTC+14. This allows Kiribati to welcome the new year hours before other nations, making it the first to see midnight strike on January 1st.
Which country is closest to the International Date Line?
The country that greets the new day first, thanks to the International Date Line, is Kiribati. Specifically, its Line Islands, where Kiritimati Island (Christmas Island) is located. Kiribati made a strategic move by shifting the Date Line eastward for these islands in 1995.
Which country has the best New Year celebration in the world?
The "best" country for New Year's depends on your preference for wild parties (New York City, London), iconic fireworks (Sydney, Dubai), warm beaches (Barbados, Thailand), unique traditions (Tokyo, Madrid, Cusco), or European charm (Barcelona, Amsterdam), with Australia/NZ being first to celebrate, followed by Asia, then Europe/Americas.
Friday is called "Friday" from the Old English Frīgedæg, meaning "Frigg's day," named after the Germanic goddess Frigg (or Freya), who was associated with love, beauty, and fertility, mirroring the Roman association of their goddess Venus with the day. This practice of naming days after deities comes from the Romans, who named the day dies Veneris (day of Venus).
The International Organization for Standardization uses Monday as the first day of the week in its ISO week date system through the international ISO 8601 standard.
So why do we worship on Sunday and not Saturday? The first day of the week was the day on which our Lord rose from the dead (John 20:1; cf. Ps. 118:24).
What places will be last to enter 2025? Baker Island and Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean will be the last locations on Earth to enter 2025, according to TimeandDate.com.
London's New Year fireworks are funded by a mix of public money from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the City of London Corporation, plus significant contributions from private corporate sponsors, with ticketing revenue covering event logistics, not the fireworks themselves. This collaborative model uses public funds for event management and culture, while sponsors get brand exposure for their investment, offsetting costs.
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first to ring in the new year, while Alaska and Hawaii will be among the last places to say goodbye to 2025.
On New Year's Day, you're traditionally not supposed to do chores like sweeping, cleaning, or doing laundry as it's believed to sweep or wash away good luck or even a loved one; you should also avoid certain foods like lobster, crab, or chicken (as they walk backward/sideways or have wings) and entering the new year with empty pockets or an empty house, but you should open doors to let out the old year's spirits.
Yes, New Zealand is one of the first countries to celebrate the New Year due to its location just west of the International Date Line, entering January 1st before most other nations and famously kicking off global celebrations with fireworks in Auckland. While the Line Islands of Kiribati technically see the date change first, New Zealand is the first sovereign nation with significant population centers to welcome the new year, followed closely by Samoa and Tonga.
