Happy New Year to all my wonderful readers in this new blog for 2014. I send silent greetings from England to wherever you live. No grand gestures from me—simply empathy and the hope that we will appreciate each moment in the future, and discover what's going on in the world around us, whilst maintaining our confidence.
Firework displays marked the beginning of the New Year around the world. Spectacular fiery illuminations accompanied by bangs and pops stunned the revelers, each more awe inspiring than the last. People in Auckland, New Zealand, were among the first to celebrate. Next, hundreds of thousands gathered for a spectacular firework display around Sydney's Harbor Bridge in Australia.
In cities across the world, people celebrated in their own way.
Amid security, Moscow staged a spectacular fireworks display over the Kremlin. In the same time zone, Dubai aimed for a world record with a fireworks extravaganza along 30 miles (50km) of seafront.
East Asian cities also rang in the New Year, with Beijing, Jakarta and Singapore all hosting celebrations. In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of spectators watched the fireworks over Victoria Harbor.
The Chinese city of Wuhan had called off its display to avoid worsening a smog problem.
In Japan, Shinto priests gathered at shrines where Japanese people prayed for their families.
In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, an estimated 100,000 people sang the national anthem in the city's Independence Square.
Firework displays marked the beginning of the New Year around the world. Spectacular fiery illuminations accompanied by bangs and pops stunned the revelers, each more awe inspiring than the last. People in Auckland, New Zealand, were among the first to celebrate. Next, hundreds of thousands gathered for a spectacular firework display around Sydney's Harbor Bridge in Australia.
In cities across the world, people celebrated in their own way.
Amid security, Moscow staged a spectacular fireworks display over the Kremlin. In the same time zone, Dubai aimed for a world record with a fireworks extravaganza along 30 miles (50km) of seafront.
East Asian cities also rang in the New Year, with Beijing, Jakarta and Singapore all hosting celebrations. In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of spectators watched the fireworks over Victoria Harbor.
The Chinese city of Wuhan had called off its display to avoid worsening a smog problem.
In Japan, Shinto priests gathered at shrines where Japanese people prayed for their families.
In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, an estimated 100,000 people sang the national anthem in the city's Independence Square.
As midnight struck across western Europe, Berlin and Paris were among the capitals staging spectacular displays followed by London, where thousands lined the banks of the River Thames. In Dublin, a People's Procession of Light carried torches to illuminate the path through the city.
Cape Town in South Africa staged a free concert with lasers, fireworks and a special tribute to former President Nelson Mandela.
New York staged its traditional New Year's Eve countdown and ball-drop over a chilly Times Square. In Brazil, more than one million revelers packed Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach to watch fireworks light up the bay after midnight.
Cape Town in South Africa staged a free concert with lasers, fireworks and a special tribute to former President Nelson Mandela.
New York staged its traditional New Year's Eve countdown and ball-drop over a chilly Times Square. In Brazil, more than one million revelers packed Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach to watch fireworks light up the bay after midnight.
But why do we celebrate this way? Why do we waste so much money when it could be used for other things like helping the needy and feeding the starving in other countries? Is this a physical show of optimism for the future?
I didn't watch fireworks. I went to bed at 10pm, only to be woken by bangs and explosions of sound. Yes, even small shires in England produce fireworks displays.
With their sensitive hearing, dogs hate the ruckus. When a greyhound lived with us, he would cower and salivate for hours.
About ten years ago, when the establishment next door operated as a pub instead of a synagogue, the publican put on huge firework displays every year and invited everyone in the area.
How do you feel about fireworks?
I didn't watch fireworks. I went to bed at 10pm, only to be woken by bangs and explosions of sound. Yes, even small shires in England produce fireworks displays.
With their sensitive hearing, dogs hate the ruckus. When a greyhound lived with us, he would cower and salivate for hours.
About ten years ago, when the establishment next door operated as a pub instead of a synagogue, the publican put on huge firework displays every year and invited everyone in the area.
How do you feel about fireworks?