Colorful bursts of fireworks explode along the 605-foot height of the Space Needle in Seattle as the new year begins.
A wave crashes on two girls hugging as they usher in the new year, while fireworks explode over Copacabana beach, during New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fireworks erupt after midnight in Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebration in New York. Thousands braved the cold to watch the annual ball drop and ring in the new year.
Katlyn Bond of Somers, N.Y., cheers in New York's Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebration.
Revelers wait in Times Square for the stroke of midnight during New Year's Eve festivities in New York.
A New York Police Department officer tosses a balloon into the crowd in Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebration.
New York police officers stand guard in Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebration.
Teru Udaka, left, and Yuko Yamakata, wearing 2015 glasses, join friends from Osaka, Japan, to celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square hours before the start of the celebration in New York.
A police officer checks a man entering a cordoned-off area in Times Square in New York on New Year's Eve. Security was especially tight this year in response to anti-police sentiment.
A large puppet makes its way down Boylston Street in Boston's First Night parade Wednesday evening.
Alice Blondell, left, of Phoenix and her sister Janie Blondell of Las Vegas listen to a tribute band during New Year's Eve festivities at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas on Wednesday.
"Sushi," portrayed by female impersonator Gary Marion, hangs in a giant replica of a woman's red high heel over Duval Street in Key West, Fla., on New Year's Eve. The Red Shoe Drop is a Key West New Year's Eve tradition, one of four Florida Keys warm-weather takeoffs on New York City's ball drop marking the beginning of the new year.
Fireworks explode over 'Big Ben,' housed in Elizabeth Tower, to celebrate the New Year in London.
Fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye in central London during the New Year celebration.
Revelers celebrate New Year's Eve on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Revelers photograph fireworks over the Arc de Triomphe as they celebrate the New Year in Paris.
In this picture taken with a long time exposure, fireworks light the sky above the medieval Cathedral of Mary, left, and St. Severi's Church, right, shortly after midnight Thursday in Erfurt, central Germany.
Fireworks explode during the New Year's party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.
A firework display goes off during the New Year's celebration at midnight in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.
A man drinks champagne during the New Year's celebration in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.
A couple take a photo of themselves as they celebrate the New Year in a main party zone in Cape Town, South Africa.
People photograph Moscow's fireworks as they celebrate the New Year in Red Square.
People light sparklers as they celebrate New Year's in Moscow's Red Square.
Ukrainians mark the upcoming New Year near St. Sophia's Cathedral in downtown Kiev on Wednesday.
A Chinese man wears an illuminated glasses celebrates the New Year during a count-down event in front of the National Stadium in Beijing, China Thursday. The Associated Press
A Chinese man wears a 2015-style glasses attends the New Year countdown event in front of the National Stadium in Beijing, China, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Revelers watch a laser show being projected on buildings as the countdown for the New Year begins in Manila, Philippines Wednesday. The Associated Press
Fireworks light up the sky as Filipinos welcome the New Year Thursday, Jan.1, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. Traditionally Filipinos welcome the New Year with firecrackers, fireworks and almost anything to make the loudest noise possible. The Associated Press
A man watches fireworks explode over Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday. The Associated Press
Fireworks explode over Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Thursday. The Associated Press
Fireworks explode over the Victoria Harbor as celebrating the 2015 new year in Hong Kong, Thursday. The Associated Press
Fireworks explode over the Victoria Harbor as celebrating the 2015 new year in Hong Kong, Thursday. The Associated Press
North Koreans gather at the Kim Il Sung Square to watch a fireworks display as they usher in the new year, Thursday in Pyongyang, North Korea. The Associated Press
North Koreans gather at the Kim Il Sung Square to watch a fireworks display as they usher in the new year, Thursday Jan. 1, 2015 in Pyongyang, North Korea. The Associated Press
Children on their parent's shoulders, wait to countdown for the New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Buddhists light candles during New Year celebrations at Jogye Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday. The Associated Press
People gather to celebrate the New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Thursday. The Associated Press
People are gathered as fireworks explode over the Yokohama port during new year celebrations in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Thursday. The Associated Press
A crow flies as indians watch the last last sunset of 2014, on the banks of the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, India, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Indian students form numbers representing the year 2015 during a function to welcome the New Year at a school in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Afghan refugee boys play on a wooden cart left on a roadside during the last sunset of the year on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Filipino spectators watch a fireworks display during the New Year's celebration at the Quezon Memorial Circle in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila.
Fireworks explode over the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia. The Associated Press
Fireworks explode over the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge during New Years Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. Thousands of people crammed into Lady Macquaries Chair look-out to see the new year in and watch the annual fireworks show. The Associated Press
Fireworks explode over the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge during New Years Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Afghan refugees and internally displaced Pakistani children gather next to a man fixing his car during the last sunset of the year on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday. The Associated Press
A couple waves during the last sunset of the year at a jetty at Yangon river in Yangon, Myanmar Wednesday. The Associated Press
Runners in fancy dress cross the Pennine hills near Haworth,northern England in the traditional Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners many in costume Wednesday. The Associated Press
Pope Francis holds a monstrance as he celebrates a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Pope Francis kisses a statue of the baby Jesus as he arrives to celebrate the new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday. The Associated Press
Pope Francis is helped wear his skull cap as he arrives to celebrate a New Year's Eve vespers service in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday. The Associated Press
News 
