WORLD BIDS GOODBYE TO 2020, HOPES FOR HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS 2021

The world waved goodbye and good riddance to 2020, as most countries remain gripped by the pandemic and governments cancelled fireworks and told people to stay home to curb infections, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported on January 1, 2021.

The iconic ball drop in New York City's Time Square still went ahead - but without the public, on an eerily quiet evening for many countries across the globe. Only a few dozen guests were invited to Times Square for its iconic confetti-strewn celebration, among them medical staff and other key workers in the pandemic.

Millions of other Americans had to make do with watching the show online, as health officials urged people across the United States to stay home. Star-studded performances included a rendition of "I Will Survive" by disco star Gloria Gaynor - a track that has become an anthem for some, celebrating resiliance during the coronavirus crisis.

Many may have watched on enviously as New Zealand - one of the first countries to usher in 2021 - was unencumbered by the public health restrictions in place in many other parts of the world. With no community cases of COVID-19 in the country, parties went ahead as planned without crowd limits or other health restrictions.

This included a number of large music festivals and firework shows, as well as a light show in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. In neighboring Australia, Sydney was like a ghost town as the clock ticked over from 2020 to 2021.

In Germany, the traditional fireworks spectacle at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate was cancelled and the area remained largely empty. A live show was broadcast from the site with no crowds in attendance.

In France, electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre performed a virtual New Year's Eve concert from a digitally reconstructed Notre-Dame cathedral as police enforced a night-time curfew in Paris. Russia's streets were quieter than usual. While there was a traditional display of fireworks in Moscow, restrictions meant bars, restaurants and skating rinks all shut before midnight.

Some 21 million Scandinavians in Denmark, Norway and Sweden also welcomed the New Year with restrictions. China, where the coronavirus pandemic first emerged, was able to hold some firework shows without restrictions, as the outbreak is largely under control there.

However, Chinese New Year is traditionally celebrated in February, meaning December 31 is not a particularly important holiday in the country.

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