Celebrations kicked off with Australia, New Zealand being among the first to welcome the New Year. Fireworks, candlelight vigils, balloons, even a Guinness record-breaking attempt, were all part of the festivities as people around the globe celebrated the end of one year and the beginning of another.
The World Rings In 2012
Revelers wave during the New Year celebrations in Hong Kong's Times Square Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP)
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year in Australia, January 1, 2012. (Reuters)
Park Won-soon, a mayor of the South Korean capital Seoul, center far, and other participants hit a huge bell to welcome the New Year at the Bosingak pavilion in Seoul,, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP)
People release balloons as the Tokyo Tower is illuminated to celebrate the New Year at a countdown event at the Zojo-ji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, January 1, 2012. (Reuters)
A couple takes a photo near the river front promenade called 'the Bund, one of the most popular tourist destinations in town, as it is illuminated to celebrate the New Year on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Shanghai, China. (AP)
People gather to celebrate the new year 2012 at the illuminated Temple of Heaven, the city's historic landmark in Beijing on January 1, 2012. Billions marked the end of 2011 with noisy celebrations from Sydney to Stockholm. (AFP)
Buddhist Thais use lotus to apply holy water on the statues of Lord Buddha for their luck as part of a New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. (AP)
Fireworks illuminate the Hong Kong skyline above Victoria harbor during New Years celebrations on January 1, 2012. An estimated 400,000 people were at the display marking the new year. (AFP)
Fireworks explode from Taiwan's tallest skyscraper Taipei 101 during New Year celebrations in Taipei, January 1, 2012. (Reuters)
Revelers celebrate the New Year on the Champs Elysees in Paris, Sunday Jan. 1, 2012. Visible in background is the Arc de Triomphe.(AP)
Fireworks explode in the sky over Bucharest, Romania, at midnight, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, during street celebrations of the new year. Large crowds gathered, taking advantage of the dry weather to attend the celebrations.(AP)
The number 2012 is written with sparklers during a long exposure in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) during New Year's Eve celebrations in Vienna, Austria, December 31, 2011. Picture taken using slow shutter speed. (Reuters)
People celebrate as they welcome the New Year at Constitution Square in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP)
Lebanese watch a firework display the New Year's celebrations in downtown Beirut, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP)
Russians celebrate the New Year on Red Square in Moscow, with the Kremlin in the background, right, and St. Basil's cathedral in background left, , Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. (AP)
The New Year's fireworks display lights up around the London Eye in central London, January 1, 2012. (Reuters)
Bernadette Brandl smiles as she takes part in the New Year's Eve festivities in New York's Times Square Saturday Dec. 31, 2011. Brandl, who is originally from Austria, is currently living in Minnesota. (AP)
Fireworks explode over Waikiki Beach to ring in the new year in Honolulu, Hawaii January 1, 2012. Hawaii is one of the last places on earth to usher in the New Year. (Reuters)