Photo: the world welcomes the New Year 2025

The BBC Russian Service wishes its readers a Happy New Year. Thanks to everyone who read, watched and listened to us in the outgoing year 2024.

We will continue to follow world news on New Year's Eve, but for now we have collected for you the most striking photographs of New Year's celebrations from that part of the planet where 2025 has already arrived or is about to arrive.

In Spain, on New Year's Day, it is customary to count a dozen grapes and eat one with each stroke of the clock (or bell) at midnight.

In Denmark, it is customary to express friendliness towards neighbors on New Year's Eve by smashing a plate on their front door.

In Latin American countries, it is customary to celebrate the New Year in underwear of bright, flashy colors: it is believed that yellow underwear promises its wearer wealth in the coming year, and red underwear promises love.

In the Philippines, people celebrate the holiday surrounded by round objects reminiscent of metal coins, such as wearing polka dots and eating round grapes.

In many British cities, festive events, including fireworks displays, were canceled due to bad weather.

Authorities have issued warnings of high winds, snow and rain in many regions.

But London's fireworks display on the banks of the Thames, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, will still go ahead.

All tickets for the show have long been sold out, and London authorities have urged residents of the city to “watch the show on TV or ring in 2025 at the capital’s fantastic variety of venues.”