New Year Fireworks

Fireworks highlight many New Year's Eve celebrations across the world

Across Europe, including The Netherlands, the New Year is welcomed with large private fireworks shows. This custom may have been borrowed by the Chinese in the early 1900's, though not for certain.

In New York City, Americans have grown accustomed to Dick Clark and his annual New Year's Rockin' Eve TV broadcast from Times Square. What many people outside of the Big Apple may not know is another New Year's Eve tradition in Manhattan. At the same time that the ball is dropped and opened from One Times Square, fireworks are set off at midnight less than a mile away in Central Park. This extends into other parts of NYC, including the South St. Seaport in lower Manhattan and Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

But, by far, the most spectacular fireworks display can be found in the land Down Under. Sydney, Australia holds the title of the best New Year's Eve fireworks display. The Sydney Harbour is not only a New Year's Eve venue for locals but also for tourists who come to watch not one but two incredible displays, at 9:00pm and midnight.

The city utilizes the impressive, beautiful, and natural settings that Sydney offers on land, bridge and water. Amongst the celebration is a wealth of holiday related events, concluded with the largest annual fireworks display in the world. For eight breath-taking minutes Sydney skies are ablaze with color and magic. Set in motion from two barges on both sides of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the display is choreographed to a soundtrack tailored for kids and is simulcast on TV and Radio.