New Year 2012 Celebration Around The World

As midnight marched across the world's time zones last night, people welcomed the start of a new year, ushering out the old and toasting the new. From Beijing to Moscow, Beirut to Paris, and London to New York, parties, fireworks and festivals welcomed 2012, the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Gathered here are images from these celebrations last night, and the many people who took part. 

Happy New Year everyone, may it be a fantastic year for you and yours.

Fireworks light up the London skyline and Big Ben just after midnight on January 1, 2012, in London, England. Thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames in central London to ring in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) 

A couple watches the last rays of sunlight for 2011 at sunset from the waters off Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 31, 2011. (Reuters/Jason Reed)  

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2011 Carnival Season From Around The World

Carnival Season is a festive season which occurs usually during February. Carnival Season typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party, as a way to usher out the winter and welcome spring. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.

Across Europe and the Americas, parades and festivals have been taking place for nearly a month, culminating in the largest, most famous party of all: the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Brazilian Carnival is one of the best-known celebrations today, but many cities and regions worldwide celebrate with large, popular, and days-long events. The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is the biggest carnival in the world, and the biggest popular party on the planet, according to The Guinness Book of World Records 2010. The Rio de Janeiro Carnaval is also considered the world's most famous.

Gathered below are images from the past several weeks of carnivals around the globe from 2011 season.

Please be remind. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Contain religious images. 

Contain images that might be Not Suitable or Safe For Work (NSFW) or Not School-Suitable (NSS)

A Unidos da Tijuca samba school dancer performs during a carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early Monday March 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)  

A worker prepares a carnival float at Unidos da Tijuca Samba School in Rio de Janeiro March 1, 2011. (REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes)

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