STORY:
Getting set for 2000 with one year to go

Festivities in many countries are starting early and going on late -- right through to 2001 -- when purists mark the millennium, 2,000 years after Year One.

The Vatican
At the Vatican, the Roman Catholic church will lead spiritual celebrations to mark 2000. The turn of the century is expected to bring as many as 20 million people to Rome. The Vatican, sensitive to the press of so many visitors, has scheduled major pilgrimages throughout the year to spread out the crowds. One such event is likely to be in August for World Youth Day.

After a visit to the United States and Mexico this month, and barring a possible trip to the Holy Land, Pope John Paul II will stick close to home in 2000. He will be giving daily blessings to pilgrims flocking to Rome to mark the start of Christianity's third millennium.

Britain
Britain, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the world's prime meridian, plans a lavish celebration at the Millennium Dome, a futuristic exhibition hall being built over 20 acres in Greenwich. The dome, hailed as visionary by supporters and as a vapid waste of money by critics, has a circumference of two-thirds of a mile and is 165 feet high. Under the Teflon-coated glass fiber roof will be exhibits looking ahead to life in the next 1,000 years.

The Millennium Commission also plans to turn London's bridges into stages for party venues on the eve of Jan. 1, 2000. Among other things, it has supported 187 building projects throughout Britain, and it plans to bathe 400 churches in the glow of floodlights and have chimes ring out from 100 new sets of church bells.

Pitt Island
Pitt Island, in New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands, claims it will be the first spot of land to see the sun rise on the new millennium -- at 4:04 a.m. Jan. 1, 2000 (11:04 a.m. EST Dec. 31,1999). Just a shade west, Gisborne, New Zealand, is promoting itself as the first city on Earth to catch the first rays of the new year.

Berlin
Berlin, Germany's new capital, is planning an open-air party around the Brandenburg Gate, including a historical theater revue with thousands of actors portraying "important historical moments" on 200 stages.

Paris
The focal point of millennium celebrations in France will be Paris' main boulevard, the Champs-Elysees. Trees and gardens also are to be planted along the Meridian line dividing the nation in a symbolic attempt to show man must live together with the environment. And three cities -- Paris, Lyon and Avignon -- will have exhibitions on French history, language and beauty.

United States
The United States is planning a series of events to honor its past and imagine the future, including arts projects, education campaigns and new goals for numerous national projects -- from connecting every classroom and library in America to the Internet to preserving treasured documents. Other events include special evenings at the White House featuring prominent creators and visionaries.

Russia and China
Russia and China have no big plans yet. A Russian government committee meeting this month will decide on events to mark the 2,000th anniversary of Christianity. In China, a countdown clock in Beijing's Tiananmen Square isn't keyed on the millennium, instead it's ticking away time until the Dec. 20, 1999, handover, of the Portuguese colony of Macau.

Japan
In Japan, which counts years by the length of an emperor's reign, 2000 will be Hisei 12, the 12th year of the reign of Akihito -- and few celebrations of the Western millennium are planned.

Israel
Israeli religious authorities already have warned against celebrations because New Year's Eve at the turn of the millennium falls on a Friday night, the Jewish sabbath. There has been longstanding tension between hotels and religious authorities in Israel over celebrations of the Christian New Year. The rabbinate traditionally threatens to withdraw kosher certification from hotels that throw New Year's parties.

Egypt
In Egypt, French musician Jean-Michael Jarre has been hired to compose a new opera to be performed at the pyramids starting at sunset Dec. 31, 1999, and lasting until sunrise the following day. Egypt also plans to affix a gold-encased capstone on the Great Pyramid, making it whole again, if only for the night.

DATE: 1/5/99

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