Photos: Countries around the world welcome 2013
Among other events, hundreds of thousands of people were expected to fill Times Square in New York, while Myanmar held a public countdown for the first time
Revellers begin to fill up Times Square for New Year's celebrations in New York, December 31, 2012.GARY HERSHORN/Reuters
Fireworks go off over Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, as part of the New Year Hogmanay celebrations Monday Dec. 31, 2012.DANNY LAWSON/The Associated Press
Revellers wearing tartan skirts and shawls dance in Princes Street during the Hogmanay (New Year) street party celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland December 31, 2012.DAVID MOIR/Reuters
Fireworks explode in the sky over St. Basil Cathedral as Russians celebrate New Year on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.IVAN SEKRETAREV/The Associated Press
A general overview shows people attending New Year celebrations at the Brandenburger Tor gate in Berlin December 31, 2012.TOBIAS SCHWARZ/Reuters
A girl looks at breads shaped like roasted pigs, locally known as "Lechon", sold for $3 at a bakery in Manila December 31, 2012. Lechon is a popular delicacy served during New Year revelries in Philippines.Cheryl Ravelo/Reuters
Workers take a rest as they prepare to set up a stage as preparations are underway for the country's first ever public New Year's countdown celebration, at Myoma grounds in Yangon, Myanmar, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. (Khin Maung Win/The Associated Press
An Indian barber gives finishing touches to the hair style of a young boy with numbers to welcome the New Year 2013 in Ahmadabad, India, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012.Ajit Solanki/The Associated Press
Fireworks explode over and around the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during new year celebrations January 1, 2013.David Gray/Reuters
Fireworks explode at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre over the Victoria Harbor as celebrating the 2013 New Year in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013Kin Cheung/The Associated Press
South Korean dancers beat drums to celebrate the New Year at Imjingak in Paju near the border village of the Panmunjom, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan 1, 2013. About 5,000 participants prayed for a peaceful solution to the rising tension over North Korea's nuclear weapons programs and hope for an early reunification of the divided Koreas.Ahn Young-joon/The Associated Press
A man holds his phone showing a message that says "cheer up 2013" as people gather to welcome the new year near the Bosingak pavilion in central Seoul December 31, 2012.Kim Hong-ji/Reuters
A follower of the Afro-Brazilian religion Umbanda pays tribute to Iemanja, goddess of the sea, in Praia Vermelha (Red Beach) in Rio de Janeiro December 31, 2012. Every end of the year, worshippers present gifts to the sea goddess to give thanks for the year that is finishing and ask for blessings for the upcoming new year.Pilar Olivares/Reuters