Yangon, Myanmar

New Year Celebrations Around the World

Workers 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. Myanmar will ring in the new year with its first public countdown and a grand fireworks display Monday night in a celebration unprecedented in the former military-ruled country. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)

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Sydney, Australi... Fireworks explode in the sky above Sydney Harbour during the New Years Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sydney, Australi... Fireworks explode behind the Opera House during the New Year celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sydney, Australi... Fireworks explode Sydney Harbour bridge during the New Year celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sydney, Australi... Fireworks explode in the sky above Sydney Harbour during the pre New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sydney, Australi... Fireworks explode in the sky above Sydney Harbour during the pre New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Sydney, Australi... Fireworks explode around the Opera House during the pre New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Ahmadabad, India 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. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Manila, Philippi... A Filipino vendor sells firecrackers in downtown Manila, Philippines on Monday Dec. 31, 2012. Despite a ban by authorities on certain firecrackers due to injuries and death, many Filipinos still welcome the New Year with fireworks in the belief that it will drive away evil spirits and bring in good luck. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Manila, Philippi... A Filipino boy looks as his mother tests a paper horn in downtown Manila, Philippines on Monday Dec. 31, 2012. Despite a ban by authorities on certain firecrackers due to injuries and death, many Filipinos still welcome the New Year with fireworks in the belief that it will drive away evil spirits and bring in good luck. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Seoul, South Kor... A woman passes by papers, bearing New Year wishes, tied to trees at Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 31, 2102. The cathedral is Korea’s oldest parish church and the symbol of Korean Catholics. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Beijing, China Chinese women pose for a photograph near a lanterns with the words "New Year's Day" hang at Qianmen Gate, a spot frequented by tourists in Beijing Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Yangon, Myanmar Workers 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. Myanmar will ring in the new year with its first public countdown and a grand fireworks display Monday night in a celebration unprecedented in the former military-ruled country. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)
Agra, India, Mon... Tourists pose as they carry umbrellas with numbers to welcome the New Year 2013 on the terrace of a hotel in the backdrop of Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Pawan Sharma)
Cairo, Egypt Egyptian protesters decorate a Christmas tree near the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. Protesters will celebrate New Year's Eve in front of the presidential palace. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
North Korea A North Korean family has their photo taken in front of fireworks as they celebrate the New Year on Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013. North Koreans celebrated the arrival of the New Year, marked as “Juche 102” on North Korean calendars. “Juche” means “self reliance,” the North Korean ideology of independence promoted by North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, and modern-day North Korean calendars start with the year of his birth in 1912. (AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon)
Lumpur, Malaysia A man poses for a photo behind a giant 2013 in 3D shape during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. (AP Photo)
Singapore Performers react as fireworks explode over the Singapore financial district to mark the start of the new year on Tuesday Jan. 1, 2013 in Singapore. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Panmunjom, South... Fireworks explode in the sky 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 participents 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.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon).
Hong Kong Fireworks explode at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre over the Victoria Harbor to celebrate the 2013 New Year in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Hong Kong Fireworks explode in front of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre over the Victoria Harbor as celebrating the 2013 New Year in Hong Kong Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Taipei, Taiwan A firework display explodes off Taiwan's tallest skyscraper Taipei101 to usher in the New Year in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Hong Kong 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, 2013 (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Mumbai, India A man lights an Old Man effigy which symbolizes burning the past and getting ready to start a happy New Year without bad memories of the past in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
NATO Headquarter... Soldiers and service members with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) cheer as the celebrate the New Year's eve at the NATO's headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Beijing, China Chinese revelers celebrate the new year during a count-down event at the Summer Palace in Beijing Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
St. Peter's Squa... Pope Benedict XVI waves from his popemobile as he visits the Nativity St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI marked the end of a difficult year Monday by saying that despite all the death and injustice in the world, goodness prevails. Benedict celebrated New Year's Eve with a vespers service in St. Peter's Basilica to give thanks for 2012 and look ahead to 2013. He looked tired during the service and used a cane afterward — an indication that the busy Christmas season may be taking a toll on the 85-year-old Benedict. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)