New Year's Day

In a Facebook publication on the occasion of the new year, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov noted that Bulgaria had managed to maintain stability despite the dynamic events taking place around the world in 2015.

Borisov identified 2015 as a year full of work and new challenges, when many projects had been fulfilled and the foundations for the long-awaited reforms had been laid.

Most people celebrate the arrival of the new year gathered with friends and family while drinking some champagne and eat delicious food or watching spectacular firework shows in the central squares of their cities.

Millions of people gathered in central squares and streets around the world to welcome the New Year amid terror fears.

At least two million people crowded at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro to watch a spectacular fireworks show that lasted 16 minutes.

The world has celebrated the coming of a New Year on the last day of 2015, amid terror threats leading to a number of central squares being blocked to celebrations. 

Australia's biggest city, Sydney, was the first to host a major event to ring in the New Year, with pyrotechnics exploding over the harbor.

Residents and tourists on Samoa and Kiribati islands were among the first to celebrate the New Year.

Auckland in New Zealand was the first big city to welcome 2016, whereas Fiji islands and Antarctica will also be among the first places to welcome the New Year.

In a few hours a lot of people will say “Happy New Year” around the world in many different languages.

In Greece we say ” Kali chronia”, in English-speaking countries “Happy New Year” and in Spanish-speaking countries ” ¡Feliz año nuevo”. But, what do people say in other countries around the world? Watch the video and learn how you can wish a Happy New Year in another language.

Authorities in most capitals of the world fear of terrorist attacks during New Year’s Eve celebrations and have increased police presence in the cities’ streets to prevent any attack.

Members of Turkey's far-right Great Unity Party (BBP) have staged a sequel to their 2014 anti-New Year's celebration skit wherein Santa Claus becomes a Muslim after learning there is "no room for barbarism" in Islam. 

A new social media campaign has been launched for the Western Balkans called "Don't Ruin the Party" - to raise awareness about the dangers of the custom of celebratory shooting ahead of the New Year's celebrations.

The practice, which was abandoned during the Cold War and communist period, experienced a dramatic comeback in the Nineties.

Temperatures will drop during the last two days of December 2015 with the National Weather Service announcing that there may be snow for New Year’s Eve.

Greece has experienced a mild winter so far with clear blue skies and sunny spring weather for Christmas.