New Year in the world's earliest place to welcome 2024

Monday, January 1, 2024 | 20:30:37

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Kiribati, the world's earliest island nation to enter 2024, has a tradition of gathering to party, eat crayfish, and drink coconut nectar to welcome the new year.

Kiribati from above. Photo: MSN

Most residents and visitors will gather on Kiritimati (Christmas Island), the larger island of Kiribati, to party and watch fireworks to mark New Year's Eve and New Year's Eve. Parties typically take place in private homes, bars, hotels or maneaba, Christian and local community houses scattered across the island.

During the New Year celebration, Kiribati people eat roast pig, crayfish and other traditional dishes such as taro, bananas, coconuts and coconut nectar mixed with water, tea or wine.

Such large-scale festive events are known as Te Botaki or traditional gatherings. In addition to New Year’s, people also gather to celebrate birthdays, weddings and funerals. The term “te botaki” emphasises the communal element of these events, where everyone is encouraged to participate and contribute in a variety of ways. Te Botaki events play an important role in preserving and passing on Kiribati’s cultural heritage from generation to generation.

Kiritimati Island is located south of Hawaii, USA, but these two islands become the first and almost the last places in the world to welcome the new year because they are located on either side of the international date line.

Kiribati people's New Year costumes. Photo: Pre tend

Kiritimati Island is located to the left of the date line, making it the first inhabited place to welcome the new day. Hawaii is located to the right, making it the last to welcome the new day, 30 minutes before Baker and Howland Islands.

It was not until 1995 that Kiribati became the first country in the world to celebrate the New Year. Previously, the Kiribati government allowed three time zones to exist on either side of the date line. This meant that the country would have two days at the same time, making it difficult to trade. From January 1, 1995, the government decided to use a single time zone. This move was considered a wise change in attracting tourists because since then, many people have flown to this place to celebrate the New Year before the rest of the world.

In 2000, the island nation's tourism industry boomed as people flocked to see the first sunrise of the third millennium. Today, Kiribati is famous for its pristine islands, coral reefs and white-sand beaches.

According to vnexpress.net

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