The best photos of early January 2025 tell a vivid story of our world in its full complexity — ancient traditions kept alive alongside modern crises, joyful festivities set against the backdrop of conflict and disaster. The images gathered here, captured by photographers from Reuters, AP, AFP, Getty Images, and Red Bull, document the first days of a new year across six continents.
Ancient Traditions Ring in the New Year Across Europe
In the Austrian village of Windischgarsten, the centuries-old Perchten parade drew crowds on January 5, 2025. Participants dressed in elaborate costumes and fearsome masks marched through the streets in a ritual rooted in Alpine folklore, traditionally believed to drive away the spirits of winter.
In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, another regional tradition took centre stage on January 6. Competitors raced wooden sledges down a snow-covered track during the Hornschlittenrennen — the traditional Bavarian horn sledge race — a spectacle that has drawn locals and visitors for generations.
In Belgrade, Serbia, Christian Orthodox believers who follow the Julian calendar celebrated Christmas Eve on January 6 by burning dried oak branches — the Yule log — in front of St. Luke church, honouring a custom that predates the modern calendar itself.
Epiphany Celebrations Span Latin America and Europe
The feast of Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, inspired colourful events from Chile to Spain. In the Plaza de Armas of Santiago, Chile, an actress representing the Wise Men’s gift of gold posed for photographs during a pre-event celebration on January 5.
In Ronda, Spain, local real estate agent Diego Sanchez, 37, stepped into the role of Gaspar — one of the Three Wise Men — on January 5. Accompanied by an entourage of pages, he threw sweets and toys from a float during the traditional Epiphany parade. Unusually, the parade was moved to midday rather than its customary evening slot due to the threat of rain.
Meanwhile in Mexico City, a volunteer group known as The Punk Kings worked on January 5 to load a truck with toys, clothes, and piñatas, all destined for disadvantaged children as part of the Día de los Reyes Magos festivities.
Latin America Embraces Carnival and Cultural Celebration
In Pasto, Colombia, the Blacks and Whites Carnival got underway on January 4 and 6, 2025. The festival, which draws on a rich blend of Andean, Amazonian, and Pacific cultural expressions, was proclaimed a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. Performers paraded with elaborate traditional floats, celebrating the ethnic diversity of the region.
Rio de Janeiro saw an early taste of its famous Carnival on January 5, when the “Bloco Planta na Mente” group staged its unofficial parade through the city’s streets, drawing enthusiastic revelers.
Also in Colombia, visitors flocked on January 2 to see Cristo Redentor Paisa, located in the Medellín neighbourhood of Comuna 13. The statue holds the distinction of being the largest monument in Latin America created using 3D printing technology.
China Prepares for the Year of the Snake
In Qingdao, Shandong Province, preparations for the 2025 Chinese New Year — the Year of the Snake — were already underway on January 4. A worker at China Railway Qingdao World Expo City installed a giant lantern crafted in a traditional Chinese style, part of a wider lantern festival planned to welcome the new lunar year.
Further south, in Congjiang county within Guizhou Province’s Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, members of the Miao ethnic group gathered on January 4 for a cultural new year celebration centred on the Lu Sheng festival — a traditional wind instrument performance that forms the heart of their cultural identity.
Conflict, Protest, and Crisis in the Opening Days of 2025
The new year’s first days were not without darkness. In New Orleans, Louisiana, a man drove a truck into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations, killing multiple people. By January 2, flowers had been placed at the site of the attack, as a grieving city began to reckon with the tragedy.
In Bnei Brak, Israel, on January 9, Israeli police moved to disperse Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who had blocked a highway as part of an ongoing protest against mandatory army recruitment — a deeply divisive issue within Israeli society.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 4, women dressed as members of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo staged a performance at the Haroldo Conti Cultural Center, protesting a wave of layoffs announced by President Javier Milei’s government.
In California, a serious brush fire broke out in the Pacific Palisades on January 7, sending heavy plumes of smoke billowing over the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica.
On January 6, North Korea conducted a test launch of what state media described as a new hypersonic missile system. Images released by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on January 7 showed the launch at an undisclosed location. Leader Kim Jong Un stated the weapon would serve to deter the country’s rivals in the Pacific region.
Best Photos of Early January 2025: Dakar Rally Pushes Into the Desert
At the 2025 Dakar Rally in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, January 5 brought the punishing 48-hour Chrono Stage — a continuous 1,000-kilometre challenge across desert terrain. In the Ultimate class, Yazeed Al Rajhi led the standings after a fierce battle with Nasser Al-Attiyah. Defending champion Carlos Sainz suffered a costly rollover, while Sébastien Loeb lost valuable time to mechanical problems. Rookie Toby Price made a strong impression by finishing only 16 minutes off the lead. In the Bike category, Daniel Sanders secured yet another stage-best time, consolidating his overall advantage. Competitors then faced a night in the desert, completing their own vehicle repairs before the race resumed.
For more extraordinary imagery from this period, explore our collection of the world’s best photos of early January 2025, or browse the Best Pictures of the Year 2025 – Part 22 for further highlights from throughout the year.
From Alpine folklore to desert racing, from carnival streets to missile launch sites, these photographs remind us that the world’s first week of 2025 was anything but quiet. Each frame captures a moment that, taken together, forms an indelible portrait of humanity at the start of a new year.
