A worker clears confetti from a sidewalk in Times Square after midnight on New Years Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013, in New York. With fireworks, concerts and celebrations from Hong Kong to New York, revelers welcome 2013 with hope for a better future after a year that thudded to a close with a disastrous storm, gun violence, and talk of economic turmoil from a looming fiscal cliff. This will be the first Times Square countdown in decades without Dick Clark, who died in April, and was honored with a tribute concert and his name printed on pieces of confetti.

Trash after the New Year's eve night is seen on Jan. 1, 2013 in Duesseldorf, western Germany.

Trash after the New Year's eve night is seen on a street on Jan.1, 2013 in Duesseldorf, western Germany.

Revelers dive collectively into the North Sea during the Nieuwjaarsduik, or New Year's dive in English, on New Year's Day in Scheveningen, in the Netherlands,on Jan.1, 2013.

Swimmers in fancy dress take to the water to participate in the New Year's Day Looney Dook swim at South Queensferry in Scotland Jan. 1, 2013.

People take part in a traditional sea bath during the New Year's celebrations on January 1, 2013 at Malo-Les-Bains beach in Dunkirk, northern France.

Revelers hold glasses of champagne while swimming in the chilly water during the annual swim in Lake Geneva, Switzerland, on New Year's day on Jan. 1, 2013.

A swimmer with his face painted as the flag of Scotland, reacts as he sits in the water during the New Year's Day Looney Dook swim at South Queensferry in Scotland Jan. 1, 2013.

A man dressed as a penguin enters the water while taking part in the Coney Island Polar Bear Club's annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim in New York's Coney Island Jan. 1, 2013. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the U.S and every New Years Day holds the winter plunge which attracts thousands of participants.

Fireworks explode on the rooftops of buildings during a 9 p.m. show prior to the new year celebrations in Sydney on Dec. 31, 2012.

People watch fireworks under The Sydney Harbor Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations on Dec. 31, 2012.

Fireworks explode around the Opera House during the pre New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney on Dec. 31, 2012.

Thai teenagers enjoy a water battle with foreign tourists during the Songkran Festival along the famous travelers' area of Khao San Road in Bangkok, on April 12. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13 this year during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.

A foreign tourist takes part in water gun battles during the Songkran Festival along the famous travelers' area of Khao San Road in Bangkok on April 12. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13 this year during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.

A Thai teenager enjoys a water battle with a foreign tourist during the Songkran Festival along the famous travelers' area of Khao San Road in Bangkok on April 12. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13 this year during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.

A Thai teenager squirts a foreign tourist with water during the Songkran Festival along the famous travelers' area of Khao San Road in Bangkok on April 12. Songkran is the Thai New Year which starts on April 13 this year during which people celebrate by splashing water at each other.

Performers from Shaanxi make their way down waterway with a "Flying Dragon" at the annual Chinese New Year Chingay parade to marks the year of the dragon in Singapore on Feb. 3. Seven countries from Egypt, China, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore took part in the parade which celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Chinese performers take part in a traditional dance outside a shopping mall during a ceremony to welcome the Lantern Festival in Beijing, China, on Feb. 3. The Lantern Festival starts on Feb. 6, which is the 15th and last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, also known as Spring Festival in China.

Participants dressed in armour and holding Viking war-axes and shields gather for a procession during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on Jan. 31. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 'guizers' (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.

Participants dressed in armour and holding Viking war-axes and shields take part in a procession during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on Jan. 31.

Akemi Takanezawa, right, and Sayaka Ikeda, center, washing 10,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills with water for purification at Zeniarai-Benten shrine in Kamakura, Japan, on Jan. 6, 2012. It is believed that money washed in sacred water at the shrine will increase one's fortune at the start of the New Year.

Rio Kawana, 4, washes coins in water for purification at Zeniarai-Benten shrine on Jan. 6, 2012.

Contestants show off banners illustrating their calligraphy skills during the 48th annual New Year calligraphy contest in Tokyo on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2012. Nearly 3,000 people participated in the calligraphy contest to celebrate the start of the New Year.

Contestents write calligraphy during the calligraphy contest on Wednesday.

Contestants show off banners illustrating their calligraphy skills.