New Year's Celebrations around the world

New Year's Celebrations around the world

Residents enjoy fireworks during New Year's celebrations at Malaysia's landmark Patronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 1, 2011. New Year's revellers around the planet welcomed 2011 in a blaze of fireworks and parties, temporarily banishing the misery of extreme weather which has struck countries across the world.

Revellers wave during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Hong Kong's Times Square, Saturday Jan. 1, 2011.

Tens of thousands of people attend the first Count Down Party for the New Year 2011 at Opera House Square, Ha Noi, Vietnam, Jan. 1.

Fireworks explode over the skyline of Kuala Lumpur during the New Year's celebrations, Jan. 1.

Revellers pose for pictures during the countdown to welcome the New Year in Hong Kong, Dec. 31.

People release balloons as the Tokyo Tower is illuminated to celebrate New Year at a countdown event at the Zojo-ji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Jan. 1.

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year, January 1, 2011. Local authorities planned for over 1.5 million people to crowd the Sydney Harbor shore and welcome in the new year under the massive fireworks display.

Fireworks explode near the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House 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 midnight display.

The sky above tall Sydney city buildings light up with the 9 p.m. fireworks display on the 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 spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks kicking off celebrations around the world.

Balinese dancer performs during a parade to celebrate New Year's Eve on a main road in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Dec. 31.

People dressed as the Russian Santa Claus, Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), left, and his companion Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), right, take part a New Year's Eve parade in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Dec. 31. New Year, which was the biggest informal holiday of the year in the former Soviet Union, is also very popular in predominantly Muslim Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan.

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.

Kyrgyz and Russian girls wearing Santa Claus costumes take part a New Year's Eve parade in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Dec. 31.

Dozens of people enjoy a cold bath at the Miracle Beach during New Year's Eve celebration in Tarragona, northeastern Spain, Dec. 31.

A man has his head shaved with the design to celebrate the new year in Karad, India, Dec. 31.

Women throw water and foam to pedestrians, from an office building in Montevideo's old district, Dec. 31. Ripped pages from calendars and water from buckets or in balloons are typically launched from office windows in this neighborhood to celebrate the end of year.

Students sit in a formation during New Year celebrations outside their school in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, Dec. 31.