New Year revellers welcomed in 2001 with fireworks, dancing and religious ceremonies throughout the world, with a few even leaping from a tall building in celebration.
Published:
1 January 2001 y., Monday
Fifteen parachutists from the U.S., Europe and Asia leapt from the old millennium to the new as midnight chimed on Sunday, using the world's tallest skyscrapers as a launch pad.
The jump started at 15 seconds before midnight, so that when they landed time had moved forward to a new millennium -- at least in the view of those who insist that 2000 was the last year of the second millennium A.D.
In Argentina, police blocked of Corrientes Avenue in Buenos Aires to create space for a New Year's Eve tango-fest. Brazil's most famous city, Rio de Janeiro, spent 1.3 million reais ($666,000) this year to attract more foreigners for the December 31 gala.
In New York, snow was being cleared from Manhattan's Times Square in preparation for celebrations after a foot (30 centimetres) fell in the last few days.
Hundreds of thousands of party-goers are expected to brave freezing temperatures and bitterly cold wind chill to welcome in 2001.
Pakistan's militant Muslims warned against celebrations and deployed extra soldiers to make sure no dancing took place, while authorities in Lebanon and Syria warned people to leave their guns at home.
Lebanese authorities banned firing into the air after the nation's civil war ended in 1990. However, shooting remains a New Year's Eve tradition.
In Japan, as the Year of the Dragon gave way to the Year of the Snake at midnight, temple bells sounded 108 times, symbolically driving out the 108 sins in the Buddhist catalogue.
Šaltinis:
europe.cnn.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Thousands in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro flock to watch the world's largest floating Christmas tree illuminate.
more »
The original coffin of Lee Harvey Oswald, the suspected assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, is to be auctioned in Los Angeles.
more »
An eco-friendly electric eel powers Christmas tree lights at an aquarium in Japan.
more »
Two-week-old cheetah cub, Kiburi, is the latest addition to California's San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
more »
Thai villagers in Lopburi host a special banquet for 3,000 long-tailed macaques to thank the monkeys for bringing tourists to the city.
more »
Stormy winter weather conditions are creating havoc for holiday travelers just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday
more »
Mexico unveils platinum, diamond-studded bottle looking to fetch over $3.5 million.
more »
Czech television host Leos Mares wears meat clothes during Talentmana TV show after losing Lady Gaga bet.
more »
A five-month-old penguin whose beak was smashed by a boat propeller in Brazil gets a prosthetic replacement to help him eat.
more »
Hundreds of students flock to New York City for the Quidditch World Cup as the Harry Potter-inspired game enjoys increased popularity ahead of the North American premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1“.
more »