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Kyoto entertainers perform New Year greeting ritual

In Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, professional female entertainers known as "geiko," and their apprentices known as "maiko," have started offering early New Year's greetings.

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Hundreds dressed as Santa run down Athen streets

Hundreds of people dressed up in red and white Santa Claus costumes to take part Sunday in Athens' seventh charity Santa Run.

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Budapest embraces the Christmas spirit

Budapest's Christmas market is welcoming visitors for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

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Lord Mayor of the City of London unveils a rubbish Christmas tree

The Lord Mayor of the City of London unveils a Christmas tree made out of waste at his official residence, Mansion House.

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Penguins post Christmas wishes to Santa

Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo have been helping their resident penguins post Christmas wishes to Santa this week.

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-"Santa of Jerusalem" visits Sea of Galilee ahead of Christmas

Bringing presents and a tree, Issa Kassissieh, better known as the Santa Claus of Jerusalem, arrives in the Sea of Galilee on his kayak to bring joy to the children in anticipation of Christmas.

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Gazans celebrate escape of six Palestinians from Israeli prison

Gazans celebrate the escape of 6 Palestinian prisoners from an Israeli prison in northern Israel through a tunnel dug beneath a sink, triggering a massive manhunt for the group that includes a prominent ex-militant.

China

Happy Lunar New Year: Welcome the Year of the Ox!

It's one of the globe’s biggest annual celebrations with approximately one-fifth of humanity taking part in the festivities. Though the pandemic has closed temples and severely limited travel and family gatherings, many traditional celebrations ARE going ahead across Asia and beyond.

People

How to celebrate Chinese New Year at home

With Chinese New Year plans on pause this year, we explore how you can recreate the festivities at home.

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Bulgarian villagers chase away evil with bonfire feast and dancing

Every year on the night of January 13, villagers in Bulgaria gather in a festival to scare away evil and bring good health and bountiful crops.

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Orthodox Christians in Bulgaria ignore COVID advice for Epiphany

Orthodox Christian churches in Greece, Bulgaria and Romania celebrate Epiphany on January 6

Green News

1 in 6 people are making environmental New Year’s resolutions in 2021

A new survey reveals over half of Brits want to get better at recycling in 2021 and are putting the planet first.

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Cuban Santeria priests reveal their New Year predictions

Afro-Cuban priests of the Santeria religion have said they forsee that 2021 will bring important changes to the island nation, as it undergoes major economic and social reforms in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy

Hundreds of birds dead after New Year fireworks displays in Rome

Loud fireworks and firecrackers in neighbourhoods that the birds tend to nest has been blamed for their sudden deaths.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Eight dead after holiday cottage poisoning on New Year's Eve

The teenagers and students were found dead on Friday after what is believed to have been a New Year's Eve celebration.

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New York 2021: Times Square's famous ball drop brings in the New Year

The ball is coated with a computerised system of LED lights.

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Mosul residents welcome 2021 after difficult year

Iraqis celebrated New Year's Eve with fireworks, songs, and dances in the celebration square in East Mosul as well as Khan Gumruk bazaar in West Mosul.

World News

France: New Year rave lasts 2 nights, authorities condemn COVID risk

A curfew was ignored as the party in Brittany continued overnight on Friday before finally ending on Saturday morning, 36 hours after it began.

Green News

2022 is here: 7 green New Year’s resolutions to protect the planet

Want to go above and beyond for the environment this year? These simple lifestyle changes could make a big difference.

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North Korea welcomes in the new year with a fireworks display

Crowds wearing face masks listened to the North Korean national anthem as the national flag was raised at midnight.