From a low-key Times Square celebration with first responders and frontline workers to cold dips in the water in January, it was a very different New Year’s Eve this year.
Changes Made To New Years Eve In Times Square Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
ShareNEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 1: The New Year's Eve ball drops in a mostly empty Times Square on January 1, 2021, in New York City. On average, about one million revelers are drawn to the Crossroads of the World to watch performances and celebrate the New Year. This year a limited live audience of about 40 first responders and essential workers were allowed to watch the New Years' ball drop from a secure area in Times Square. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Swimmers Brave The Waters For Traditional New Year’s Day Dip
ShareEDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 01: Members of the public brave cold waters in River Forth to take a New Year dip in front of the Forth Rail Bridge on January 1, 2021 in South Queensferry. Restrictions have been placed on many new year festivities around the world including the annual Loony Dook as countries attempt to curb spikes in new coronavirus cases. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
“Willkommen 2021” New Year’s Eve Live Show At Brandenburg Gate
ShareBERLIN, GERMANY - JANUARY 01: Fireworks explode at midnight, celebrating the official start of the new year during the "Willkommen 2021" performance behind the Brandenburg Gate on January 01, 2021 in Berlin, Germany. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Berlin's annual official New Year's Eve festivities were broadcast over the ZDF television network without the celebration's traditional public audience of thousands or fireworks display, as the government discourages gatherings under the second lockdown designed to prevent further spread of the virus that has so far killed over 33,000 people in the country. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)
2021 Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration
ShareNEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Cyndi Lauper performs live from Times Square during 2021 New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Hershorn-Pool/Getty Images)
Hong Kongers Celebrate New Years Eve At Monastery
ShareHONG KONG, CHINA - DECEMBER 31: Buddhist venerables rehearse for a ritual ceremony at Tsz Shan Monastery on December 31, 2020 in Hong Kong, China. Tsz Shan Monastery celebrates 2021 by holding a new year ritual ceremony. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
Hong Kongers Celebrate New Years Eve At Monastery
ShareHONG KONG, CHINA - JANUARY 1: Buddhist venerables perform a ritual ceremony at Tsz Shan Monastery on January 1, 2021 in Hong Kong, China. Tsz Shan Monastery celebrates the 2021 by holding a new year ritual ceremony. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
Changes Made To New Years Eve In Times Square Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
ShareNEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 1: The New Year's Eve ball drops in a mostly empty Times Square on January 1, 2021, in New York City. On average, about one million revelers are drawn to the Crossroads of the World to watch performances and celebrate the New Year. This year a limited live audience of about 40 first responders and essential workers were allowed to watch the New Years' ball drop from a secure area in Times Square. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
New Year’s Eve In Athens During The Coronavirus Pandemic
ShareATHENS, GREECE - DECEMBER 31: A fireworks display over the Ancient Acropolis during New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 2020 in Athens, Greece. New Year's Eve celebratory fireworks have been cancelled or televised in major cities worldwide in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
New Year’s Eve In Rome During The Coronavirus Pandemic
ShareROME, ITALY - JANUARY 01: Fireworks are seen over St. Peter's Basilica on New Year's Eve during the Coronavirus pandemic on January 01, 2021, in Rome, Italy. The Italian government continues to enforce the national lockdown measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in the final days of 2020. New Year's Eve celebratory fireworks have been cancelled in most cities worldwide or broadcasted online in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
New Year’s Eve In The UK During The Coronavirus Pandemic
ShareLONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01: The clock face on Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, is seen on the stroke of midnight on January 01, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. New Year's Eve Celebrations have been curtailed in the UK this year dues to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. With most of the UK in tiers three and four, socialising is off limits. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Vietnamese Celebrate A Covid-free New Years Eve
ShareHANOI, VIETNAM - JANUARY 01: People wear protective face masks while attending a public New Year's Eve countdown party in the city center on January 01, 2021 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnamese people celebrated New Year this year with a sense of joy, knowing that their country has been one of the most successful in the world at containing the arrival and the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Photo by Linh Pham/Getty Images)
Taiwanese Celebrate New Year’s Eve
ShareTAIPEI, TAIWAN - JANUARY 01: Fireworks light up the Taiwan skyline and Taipei 101 when LED signs Taiwan doing great job againsting COVID-19 Chinese during New Years Eve celebrations on January 01, 2021 in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
Australians Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2020
ShareSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 01: A fireworks display is seen over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations on January 01, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Celebrations look different this year as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Australians Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2020
ShareSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 01: A fireworks display is seen over the Sydney Opera House during New Year's Eve celebrations on January 01, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Celebrations look different this year as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images)
Australians Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2020
ShareSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 01: Fireworks light the sky over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations on January 01, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Celebrations look different this year as COVID-19 restrictions remain in place due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Welcomes 2021 With New Year’s Eve Celebrations
ShareAUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 01: Fireworks from the SkyTower during Auckland New Year's Eve celebrations on January 01, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images for Auckland Unlimited)
Swimmers Brave The Waters For Traditional New Year’s Day Dip
ShareEDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 01: Members of the public brave cold waters in River Forth to take a New Year dip in front of the Forth Rail Bridge on January 1, 2021 in South Queensferry. Restrictions have been placed on many new year festivities around the world including the annual Loony Dook as countries attempt to curb spikes in new coronavirus cases. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
2021 Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration
ShareNEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Attendees watch a performance in Times Square during 2021 New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Hershorn-Pool/Getty Images)
New Year’s Eve In Paris During The Covid-19 Pandemic
SharePARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 31: Guests at the Pullman Hotel welcome in 2021 near the Eiffel Tower on December 31, 2020 in Paris, France. New Year's eve celebrations and fireworks have been cancelled throughout France and an 8pm curfew imposed in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections. (Photo by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
2021 Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration
ShareNEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Gloria Gaynor performs live from Times Square during 2021 New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Hershorn-Pool/Getty Images)
Spain Celebrates The New Year 2021
ShareMADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 31: A fireworks display is seen over Puerta del Sol Square on New Year's Eve during the coronavirus pandemic on December 31, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Madrid's regional government has forbidden celebrations for New Year's Eve at Puerta del Sol Square for first time in its history due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has extended the curfew time to 1:30 am. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
New Year’s Eve In A Rome ICU During The Coronavirus Pandemic
ShareROME, ITALY - DECEMBER 31: Healthcare workers in personal protective equipment (PPE) celebrate the new year in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on New Year's Eve in the COVID-19 department of the San Filippo Neri Hospital amid the coronavirus pandemic, on December 31, 2020, in Rome, Italy. Hospitals in Italy are under pressure as they battle to treat those who have contracted COVID-19 in final days of 2020. The Italian government continues to enforce national lockdown measures to control the spread of COVID-19. There have been over 2,070,000 reported coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Italy and more than 73,029 related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
Changes Made To New Year’s Eve In Times Square Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
ShareNEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 31: Police patrol an empty Times Square prior to New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 2020, in New York City. The NYPD has advised the public to stay away from Times Square this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, shutting down the streets to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. A small group of invited first responders and essential workers will instead be permitted to watch the ball drop while socially distancing. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
New Year’s Eve In Paris During The Covid-19 Pandemic
SharePARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 31: Parisians enjoy New Year's Eve in front of the Hotel de Ville before an 8pm citywide curfew on December 31, 2020 in Paris, France. New Year's eve celebratory fireworks have been cancelled or televised in major cities worldwide in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections. (Photo by Kiran Ridley/Getty Images)
Swimmers Brave The Waters For Traditional New Year’s Day Dip
ShareEDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 01: Members of the public brave cold waters in River Forth to take a New Year dip in front of the Forth Rail Bridge on January 1, 2021 in South Queensferry. Restrictions have been placed on many new year festivities around the world including the annual Loony Dook as countries attempt to curb spikes in new coronavirus cases. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
2021 Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebration
ShareNEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Jennifer Lopez performs live from Times Square during 2021 New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Hershorn-Pool/Getty Images)
