Last night, as the stroke of midnight rolled across the world's time zones, people gathered in private and took to the streets to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, 2013. Fireworks erupted from Sydney to Moscow, and revelers gathered in London, Dakar, New York, Las Vegas, and thousands of other places, raising a glass, keeping warm, making resolutions, and wishing each other a "Happy New Year!"
New Year's Celebrations Around the World
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A reveler writes the number 2013 with sparklers ahead of New Year's Day in a forest outside Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, on a day with a temperature of about -25 degrees Celsius (-13 F), on December 31, 2012. #
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A couple with champagne glasses stand on a hotel balcony as fireworks explode over Edinburgh Castle during the Hogmanay (New Year) street party celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland, on January 1, 2013. #
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Maurizio Palmulli of Italy dives into the Tiber River from the Cavour bridge, as part of traditional New Year celebration on January 1, 2013. Four men dived the muddy waters of the Tiber from the Cavour bridge, continuing an annual tradition which dates back to 1946. #
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Fireworks light up the sky along Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on January 1, 2013, during celebrations by over three million people attending New Year's Eve festivities. #
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Young residents watch fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during new year celebration at the Pavao Pavaozinho slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 1, 2013. With a clear viewing of Rio's firework celebration that bring in the new year, Brazilian Azelina dos Santos charges as much as $500 for a spot on her shanty town rooftop, where there is room for 60 guests; 30 locals and 30 out-of-towners. She says she mixes up the numbers to encourage integration. #
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Gary Marion, portraying female impersonator Sushi, hangs in an oversized replica of a women's red high heel over Duval Street at the Bourbon Street Pub Complex in Key West, Florida, on December 31, 2012. The Red Shoe Drop has become a Key West tradition and is one of five Florida Keys warm-weather takes on New York City's Times Square ball drop marking the beginning of the New Year. #
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Hundreds of holiday makers at the Jomo Kenyatta Public beach Mombasa, Kenya, on the first day of the year as they ushered in the new year on January 1, 2013. Most of the beaches were in full capacity as the holiday makers spend most of the afternoon session at the beaches either relaxing, swimming or enjoying boat excursions to the deep sea. #
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Visitors take pictures and videos during a light show as part of a New Year countdown celebration at the financial square on the Bund in Shanghai, on December 31, 2012. #
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Girls holding saltire flags join around a thousand New Year swimmers, many in costume, who braved freezing conditions in the River Forth in front of the Forth Rail Bridge during the annual Loony Dook Swim in South Queensferry, Scotland, on January 1, 2013. Thousands of people gathered last night to see in the New Year at Hogmanay celebrations in towns and cities across Scotland.. #
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People celebrate as the stroke of midnight rings in the new year in Times Square on January 1, 2013 in New York City. Approximately one million people rang in the new year in Times Square. #
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