REPORT: New year preparations around the world

Thousands of devotees of the Afro-Brazilian religion known as Candomble on Saturday honored one of their most important figures, Iemanja, the goddess of the sea, in an annual ritual at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.        

A statue of Iemanja was carried on a truck to the ceremony at the beach where devotees showered her with gifts. Dressed in white and blue, followers of Iemanja made offerings such as champagne, perfume, mirrors and flowers.        

The gesture is to thank Iemanja, whom believers call their sacred mother, for the blessings received and to ask for protection and good luck in the new year ahead.         

In the United States, New York's Times Square is counting down to the big night, when up to one million revelers are expected to pack into 'The Crossroads of the World' and welcome in the New Year at midnight on December 31st.                        

The Times Square Alliance, which is in charge of planning and overseeing the celebrations, has been putting the finishing touches on the night's preparations.                        

Recently they installed new Waterford crystals in the ball that drops at midnight. This year the theme of the night is 'peace', and one special crystal will be installed to honor deceased U.S. television host Dick Clark, who hosted the New Year's Eve countdown party for 40 years.                       

When the ball drops to ring in 2013 the crowds will be showered from the rooftops with colorful confetti and Alliance organizers have set up a special place for people to personalize a piece of this confetti with their New Year's Eve wishes.                        

Along with the huge crowds expected on hand, the night's festivities are also expected to be seen by up to a billion people globally on television.


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REUTERS