The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first country to ring in 2025, its 133,500 citizens celebrating the new year at 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Ah, New Year’s Eve – in the UK, a time of music, fireworks and plenty to drink. And when it comes to ritual, we’re certainly not without the odd tradition. In Scotland, for example, there’s first-footing – when it’s said the first person to enter the house after midnight should be a dark-haired male.