Yoshikazu Tsuno / AFP - Getty Images
Dressed in 19th century Japanese fire fighting uniform, a member of the Edo (Tokyo) Firemanship Commemoration Association performs on a bamboo ladder for a New Year's celebration event outside a Tokyo department store on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. The popular traditional firefighters' stunt attracts New Year shoppers to the department store every year.
Yoshikazu Tsuno / AFP - Getty Images
Rolex Dela Pena / EPA
Filipinos return to their burned homes to look for usable items after a pre-dawn fire in Pasay City, south of Manila, Philippines, Jan. 1. One person died as Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) firefighting units responded to at least 12 fires of varying degrees in the National Capital Region starting in the early hours of the new year. At least three of the incidents were believed to be related to firecrackers amid ongoing New Year's Eve celebrations, the BFP said.
Aaron Favila / AP
A Filipino man carries a burned bicycle after houses caught fire on New Year's day, Jan. 1, in Manila, Philippines. The fire broke out shortly after and left about 100 families homeless.
AP reports:
Many Filipinos, largely influenced by Chinese tradition, believe that noisy New Year's celebrations drive away evil and misfortune. But they have carried that superstition to extremes, exploding huge firecrackers and firing guns to welcome the new year despite threats of arrest.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said at least 65 people were arrested for using illegally large firecrackers.
Jay Directo / AFP - Getty Images
An elevated highway in the financial district of Manila is enveloped by smog caused by pyrotechnics and firecrackers the morning after New Year's celebrations on January 1. Hundreds of Filipinos were injured by firecrackers and stray bullets while fires gutted homes in the capital as revellers celebrated the new year.
Pongmanat Tasiri / EPA
Thais dressed in Lanna (northern) traditional costumes douse each other with water to celebrate Songkran in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand on April 12.
During the annual Songkran water festival, large groups of people splash water and throw powder at each other's faces as a symbolic sign of cleansing and washing away the sins from the old year. The festival marks the traditional New Year in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
Rungroj Yongrit / EPA
A Thai boy uses a water pistol to splash water on a foreign tourist to celebrate Songkran, also known as water festival in Bangkok, Thailand, 12 April 2011. The three-day Songkran festival is celebrated in Thai traditional as New Year's day with spraying water and putting powder on each others faces as a symbolic sign of cleansing and washing away the sins from the old year.
The authorities in Myanmar warned last week that revelers wearing "decadent" clothing to the festivities could face up to a month in prison, but that was not enough to put off at least one Burmese punk, below.
Nyein Chan Naing / EPA
A teenager dressed as a punk takes part in the water festival at the Bogyoke Aung San Market Yangon, Myanmar on April 12.
Eugene Hoshiko / AP
A worker sets up children-shaped lanterns on Jan. 25 for Chinese New Year celebrations in Shanghai.
Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 3, and 2011 will be the Year of the Rabbit.
Ennio Leanza / EPA
Equipped with branches of pine trees and cow bells, some so-called 'Silvesterchlaus' (New Years Claus) walk towards a farm house to offer their best wishes for the New Year (following the Julian calendar) to the farmers in this region in Urnaesch, Switzerland, on Thursday, January 13, 2011.
What an interesting custom! When I first saw this, I thought they were hunters in camoflauge. The caption goes on to say that after the New Year Claus' sing and dance, they then receive food, hot drinks or money.
Yoshikazu Tsuno / AFP - Getty Images
An eight-year-old sea lion "Leo" writes the word "Rabbit" in Chinese characters as part of a New Year's attraction at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama in Kanagawa prefecture, suburban Tokyo on Jan. 3. February 2011 will mark the start of the Year of the Rabbit according to the lunar calender a 12-year cycle followed by China and other parts of Asia.
Matt Rourke / AP
Members of the Polish American String band perform during the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Saturday, Jan. 1.
When I think of New Year's Day, the Rose Parade, which got its start in 1890, is one of the first things that comes to mind, but apparently the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia has been around for over 100 years. Read more about the Mummers Parade here.
David Moir / Reuters
Tourists from China pose for photographers while wearing kilts before the New Year Hogmanay celebrations in Princes Street in Edinburgh, Scotland, Dec. 31, 2010.
You can see more images of New Year's celebrations HERE.
Kim Ludbrook / EPA
One of the thousands of participants walks through the streets of Hillbrow during the Annual City of Johannesburg Carnival, South Africa, Dec. 31. The floats in the carnival reflect the city and its diversity.
This reminds me of the face-making contests I'd have as a kid on long road trips with my brother.
And we're off! New Year's Eve fireworks in Australia kick off celebrations around the world. You can see more images of New Year's celebrations HERE.
Tim Wimborne / Reuters
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year on Jan. 1, 2011. Local authorities planned for over 1.5 million people to crowd Sydney Harbor and welcome in the new year under the massive fireworks display.
Rob Griffith / AP
The sky above tall Sydney city buildings light up with the 9 p.m. fireworks display on New Year's Eve in Australia, Dec. 31. Enthusiastic Australians camped out at parks alongside the Sydney Harbor Bridge to win the best view of the New Year's Eve fireworks.
Tim Wimborne / Reuters
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbor during a pyrotechnic show three hours before the New Year, Dec. 31. The eight minute fireworks display was aimed at families with children who will not be awake for the traditional massive fireworks display at midnight.
Tim Wimborne / Reuters
Fireworks explode near the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House during a pyrotechnic show three hours before the New Year, Dec. 31.
These Peruvian Shamans are sure offering a wide range of blessings.
Paolo Aguilar / EPA
A group of shamans perform a ritual for good luck as they hold up an image of President Barack Obama in Lima, Peru on Dec. 29.
Mariana Bazo / Reuters
A woman holds an offering of fruits as shamans perform a ritual for good luck for the new year in Lima, Peru on Dec. 29.
Paolo Aguilar / EPA
Posters of (L-R) Brazilian President-elected Dilma Rousseff, Bolivian President Evo Morales and Australian founder of WikiLeaks Julian Assange are seen among ritual items during a ceremony held by shamans for good luck during 2011 in Lima, Peru on Dec. 29.
A cool concept to have your wish rain down as New Year's confetti. What would you wish for?
Ray Stubbleline / Carnival Cruise Line via Reuters
New Year's wishes for 2011 are tacked on the Carnival Cruise Lines Wishing Wall at the Times Square Visitors Center in New York on Dec. 20,. The slips of paper with people's wishes on them will be included in the confetti that will fall from the tops of buildings around the Square on New Year's Eve. Anyone can have their wish added to the confetti by visiting Carnival's Facebook page.
Ray Stubblebine / Carnival Cruise Lines viaReuters
Bella Rigdon from Houston, Texas, places her New Year's wish for 2011 on the Carnival Cruise Lines Wishing Wall at the Times Square Visitors Center in New York on Dec. 20.
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