Billions of people welcome the year 2023 on Sunday night. Unlike in the past two years, there was no longer a ban on the sale of fireworks in Germany before New Year’s Eve. Therefore, there could be many more emergencies and incidents again. According to the German Weather Service, it will be unusually mild again on New Year’s Eve. Temperatures are likely to be in the double digits in many places. The DWD pointed out that it was particularly windy in the northwestern half of Germany and New Year’s rockets could be blown away by the wind.
Party at the Brandenburg Gate
In Berlin there is again a party with an audience at the Brandenburg Gate. Guests had to purchase tickets to the show in advance, themed “Celebrate at the Gate.” According to the organizer, 2500 people are expected. At midnight there should be no fireworks, but a light show.
ZDF broadcasts its New Year’s Eve show “Welcome 2023” from there – Andrea Kiewel and Johannes B. Kerner present the show for the first time from the east side, Pariser Platz. They are supported by singer Sasha. Expected musical guests include the Scorpions, DJ BoBo, Münchener Freiheit and Jupiter Jones. Tens of thousands celebrated between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column in the years before the pandemic. In the years before Corona, the celebration was considered the largest New Year’s Eve party in Germany.
Celebrations in other countries
There are also celebrations in other major cities. In Sydney there will again be a huge firework display at the famous opera house, in Dubai later on at the tallest building in the world – a new world record is to be set there with a laser show. In addition, a light show with hundreds of drones is planned in the Emirati metropolis.
In Kyiv, Ukraine, on the other hand, martial law continues to apply. In the Ukrainian capital, which has repeatedly been shelled by rockets, it is illegal to set off fireworks. Although many restaurants are festively decorated, people often sit in the dark after Russian attacks on power plants due to power failures. Despite the war, many Ukrainians don’t miss out on the New Year’s presents and a celebratory meal.
In London, for the first time since the turn of the year 2019/20, there will be New Year’s fireworks on the “London Eye” Ferris wheel – more than 100,000 ticket holders are expected in the city center.
For the first time since the beginning of the corona pandemic, the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro is celebrating again on Copacabana beach with fireworks and concerts without restrictions. The traditional New Year’s Eve party in Times Square has been announced in New York, where a blue ball traditionally sinks to the ground when the ball drops.
It takes 26 hours between 11:00 a.m. CET on December 31st and 1:00 p.m. CET on January 1st for the entire globe to slide into the new year. It starts in the island state of Samoa, goes through Australia, Asia to Europe, South America, the US east coast, California, Hawaii to the uninhabited islands of Baker Island and Howland Island back in the Pacific.
Many deployments feared
In Germany, after two comparatively quiet New Year’s Eve nights, hospitals, police and fire brigades expect to have much more work and operations than in 2021/22 and 2020/21. In the past two years, the sale of fireworks for New Year’s Eve was also banned to relieve hospitals of additional patients during the pandemic period.
The medical organization Marburger Bund called for Böller caution. “Many rescue stations are already at the limit, and of course a New Year’s Eve fireworks always carries an additional risk of accidents,” said Marburger Bund chairwoman Susanne Johna of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ). This applies not only to “active” fireworks, but also to onlookers
In Berlin, a spokesman for the accident hospital said that more injuries such as torn off fingers after unsuccessful fireworks are expected. “We assume that operations will continue from around 3 a.m. until late on New Year’s Eve.” Two groups are particularly at risk: drunk people who handle fireworks improperly. “And children on New Year’s Day who want to pick up and light unlit fireworks or duds.”
