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Samoa Skips Friday, Wakes Up Saturday

Country goes to bed on Dec. 29, rises on Dec. 31

By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 30, 2011 7:35 AM CST

(Newser) – TGI ... S? There was no Friday, Dec. 30, in Samoa, as residents went to bed on Thursday and woke up Saturday. Or, some did. The rest celebrated as fireworks overtook the sky and sirens blared, marking the tiny South Pacific island's jump into the future as it crossed west over the international date line. The shift, which neighboring Tokelau also made, syncs Samoa's time with that of key Asia-Pacific trading partners, reports the AP. Samoa's 186,000 citizens will have one less day to prep for New Year's Eve—they'll now celebrate it first in the world, rather than last. Click for more on what prodded the change.

Map locates Samoa; country plans to move their calendar forward one day by moving across the International Dateline.
Map locates Samoa; country plans to move their calendar forward one day by moving across the International Dateline.   (AP)
Sun sets on Thursday, rises on Saturday.
Sun sets on Thursday, rises on Saturday.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
kukisvoomchor
Dec 30, 2011 7:13 PM CST
What's cool about this is that American Samoa remains EAST of the date line. So it's an hour and a day behind [Western] Samoa. A 35-minute flight, of which there are around ten a day, separates them.
NoddaAndYou
Dec 30, 2011 11:08 AM CST
Samoa is an awesome little island, with really amazing people. I hope all the best for them.
Rational.-Anarchist
Dec 30, 2011 8:18 AM CST
This story reads as if they moved the island. The only person that I know of that believes that is possible is that screwball senator, whose name I don't remember. The one who said too much weight on one side of an island would tip it over into the ocean!
 

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