The next 500 years of Bermuda?s history were rung in with the blaring of air horns and the banging of fireworks as more than 6,000 people crammed into King?s Square in St. George?s on New Year?s Eve.

The event, organised by the Corporation of St. George?s was hailed as the best ever by St. George?s Mayor, E. Michael Jones, who said 2005 marked the 500 year anniversary of Bermuda?s discovery by Spanish ship captain, Juan de Bermudez.

?sWhereas, let it be known, that on this night, Friday December 31, 2004, we proclaim the end of the first quincentennial or five hundred years of these Islands of Bermuda. Whereas, Juan de Bermudez, the first known person to land on the Island in the year 1505, 500 years ago,? Mayor Jones said in King?s Square on Friday.

?He accidentally discovered Bermuda and gave it his name. His ship, was on the return leg of the first expedition that carried African slaves through the middle passage to the West Indies and Hispaniola.

?Whereas tonight we not only celebrate the beginning of a New Year 2005, but also the beginning of the second quincentennial of Bermuda. The second 500 years,? he said.

?Let it be known as Mayor of this World Heritage Site, I take pleasure in recognising this occasion and trust that the next 500 years will be as momentous as the first.

?May our Island continue to be blessed and may good fortune prevail for us all in the next year and also the next quincentennial. May the celebrations continue,? he said before the uproar of several hundred air horns.

On the stroke of midnight, Lady Vereker helped to drop the new year Bermuda onion that was crowned with palm-fronds and wrapped in Christmas lights.

Speaking from the Town Hall after the onion dropped, Mayor Jones called the festivities: ?absolutely magic...a special occasion in a very friendly atmosphere?.

St. George?s town manager Lance Furbert said the ?estimates for this year were higher than ever before at 6,000 people? as the annual St. George?s New Year?s bash had become part of local New Year?s Eve tradition.

?It?s great for the tourists,? Mr. Furbert said, ?but it is the one time of the year when you see people of all sorts of classes and races, tourists and locals alike here together,? he said.

But the Corporation had to do a lot of work to get it running every year, he said.

?We will be cleaning up until 6 or 7 a.m.,? he said. ?I get to drive a trash truck! But we are getting organised now. After 14 years they have got (the clean-up) down to a science.?

?It?s wonderful to be down in St. George?s again in the new year and see all of the wonderful people celebrating on this special evening,? Governor Sir John Vereker said.

?This is the best of Bermuda, everyone is having a good time together, on this very special occasion the beginning of the quincentennial year?.

Sir John and Lady Vereker assisted the Mayor in a special moment of silence for the then-140,000 victims of tidal waves overseas.

?The Corporation (of St. George?s) decided in its own way to try to remember the nearly 140,000 lost lives of the tsunamis. It seems almost unbelievable to consider over twice the population of Bermuda was killed in one fell swoop. New Year?s Eve seemed to be a good time to (remember them),? Mayor Jones said.

?We think of ourselves as a small Island in a big ocean. That is no longer the case. Bermudians were affected directly and indirectly by the waves because we travel so much... As in 9/11 we were directly affected. The world is now the ocean.

?There is always a Bermudian out there in some corner of the world,? he said.

To remember the tidal wave victims, Sir John and Lady Vereker helped to light the candles at 11.30 p.m. ?to burn from one year into the next, to help the victims find their way?.

After the candles were lit, local band Tempo played Marvin Gaye?s classic: ?What?s Going On?.

The festivities began at 8 p.m. but few dared to brave the cold winds. However, the Town Square and bridge to Ordinance Island were full by 11.30 p.m.

Children and adults enjoyed the glowing toys and glittering hats being sold in nearby stalls.

At 9 p.m. a steel band played ?Feeling Hot Hot Hot?, but several party goers beat the early evening damp with fiery refreshments instead as public drinking laws seemed to be relaxed.

At 10 p.m. there was display of the Island?s talented youth, including gospel-rapper ?Mikila? who belted out her song ? God?s Child ? to get the crowd dancing and of course, air-horns blowing.