Finns welcome New Year amid festivity, joy

The celebrations of New Year 2024 have begun across the country late Sunday night and continued on Monday amid festivity and joy.

The celebrations attracted several thousands of people who welcome the 2024 moment after midnight through fireworks displays almost every part of the country.

Although, majority of the major cities did not organised the traditional New Year’s Eve celebration with fireworks, several local authorities arranged fireworks display and people also individually organised the fireworks by their own across the country.

Several cities such as Turku, Jyväskylä, Joensuu, Lappeenranta, Seinäjoki, Rovaniemi and Mikkeli officially organised the traditional fireworks while many cities including Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Oulu, Kuopio, Lahti, Pori, Kouvola, Hämeenlinna, Vaasa, Porvoo and Salo remained refrained from the fireworks this year.

Most of the cities pointed out environmental issue, avoiding noise and austerity as reasons behind refraining from welcoming the new year through the fireworks.

People from different strata rushed to the bank of rivers, lakes and other remote areas to bid farewell the 2023 and welcome the 2024.

Meanwhile, the festival-goers were entertained in late-night concerts by top Finnish artists and other performances to celebrate the beginning of the new year.

The City of Helsinki organised a concert at Kansalaistori Square where DJ Xmies, Lyömättömät, Vilma Alina, BESS and Käärijä performed.

Monday is the public holiday to celebrate the first day of the year. All government, semi-government and most of the private organisations will remain closed.

The emergency services, some shopping mall and groceries, however, will remain open.