Although there were no fireworks to welcome the New Year in the City of Kigali, the celebration mood was not dampened as revellers hit happening places to toast to 2014.At the stroke of midnight, thousands of people who had gathered in various night spots, parties and places of worship celebrated the New Year any way they could; music, dance and prayer.With the majority of Rwandan families thronging places of worship to welcome the New Year, religious leaders took the opportunity to pass on messages of encouragement and good will to Rwandans.Most of them majored on the importance of the country’s unity and the importance of patriotism, especially being the year that Rwanda commemorates 20 years of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.In his End of Year message, jointly delivered with the State of the Nation Address, President Paul Kagame  thanked Rwandans for their efforts to build the country and what they had achieved so far and went ahead to wish the nation a prosperous coming year. "I would like to wish all of you who are here, all Rwandans in general, as well as all of those who live in Rwanda, a happy new year 2014. May it be a prosperous and fruitful year for you and your families,” Kagame said.There were also those who chose to flock to entertainment spots last night, which were offering various indulgences, some with dinners and cocktails and others with music and dance. The annual New Year’s Eve party by a events organiser, Happy People, was this year held at Serena Hotel’s ballrooms, attracting numerous revellers who welcomed the year in song and dance. Hopeful yearMost of the revelers expressed optimism in the New Year.Fellow East African countries, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania ushered in the New Year an hour ahead of Rwanda due to time zone differences, while Kinshasa was one hour later than Rwanda.New Zealand, Sydney, Australia and the eastern Asia cities of Beijing, Jakarta and Singapore were among the first cities to welcome 2014, some eight hours before Kigali.Sky lines in the Asian cities were lit up with fireworks, with Sydney having the most extravagant display of about eight tonnes. Philippines, which was recently raged by a Typhoon, was also among the first countries to usher in the New Year.Researchers and crew on a ship in Antarctica, who have been stranded in a mass of ice, were also among the first to ring in the New Year as they were awaiting rescue.

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