Fireworks over Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

Fireworks over Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada

New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day, is celebrated around the world with revelry, fireworks and for some, religious and cultural observances. Many countries celebrate with foods symbolic of prosperity, long life and good fortune for the coming year, and many people sing Scottish folk song 'Auld Lang Syne' at the stroke of midnight to remember old friends and past experiences. The new year is often personified as a baby, a tradition that dates back to ancient Greeks, often paired with an old man who represents the previous year.

Featured here is the dazzling canvas of light and colour as fireworks burst over the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. Often called the 'The Hill,' it is a significant landmark in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, resting along the southern bank of the Ottawa River. This Crown land is home to Canada's Parliament, housed within a striking collection of Gothic Revival buildings designed to reflect the heritage of parliamentary democracy. Welcoming around three million visitors annually, Parliament Hill is both a hub of political activity and a cultural attraction.