New Year's Day

AUSTRALIA.jpg

Fireworks burst over the Sydney Opera House, right, as New Year's celebrations begin in Sydney, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

20111222-200838-pic-992361952.jpg

District Mayor Vincent C. Gray said "opinions always matter" and "we take them seriously," but he is proud of accomplishments such as the fiscal year 2012 budget and sustainability efforts that will stretch into the new year. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

20110614-191436-pic-734996500.jpg

The military wing of the Kachin Independence Army provides security for the Kachin New Year celebration in January 2010. Myanmar troops have attacked Kachin forces to try to drive them from an area by China's border. (Associated Press)

Afghanistan New Year_Lea.jpg

** FILE ** Afghan police stop people outside the Sakhi shrine during Nawroz, a new year ceremony, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, March 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

20110228-195121-pic-898861153.jpg

Mariela Ducase checks lettuce at an organic farm in San Antonio de los Banos on New Year's Day. During the height of the winter growing season, the selection at state-run vegetable markets is largely limited to lettuce and cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers and a variety of tubers. (Associated Press)

newyear_4229

Worshippers light their joss sticks to offer the first prayer of the lunar new year at a temple Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, in Shanghai, China. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

newyear_4228

Worshippers offer the first prayer of the new year at a temple Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, in Shanghai, China. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

newyear_4227

A performer playing the role of emperor takes part in a re-enactment of a customary ceremony where the emperor prays for a good harvest during the lunar new year at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

newyear_4226

A worshipper offers the first prayer of the lunar new year at a temple Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, in Shanghai, China. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

newyear_4223

Performers take part in a re-enactment of a customary ceremony where the emperor prays for a good harvest during the lunar new year at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

newyear_4222

Performers take part in a re-enactment of a customary ceremony where the emperor prays for a good harvest during the lunar new year at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

newyear_4221

Chinese paramilitary police watch performers taking part in a re-enactment of a customary ceremony where the emperor prays for a good harvest during the lunar new year at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

newyear_4215

Worshippers divine by drawing lots during the China's Lunar New Year at the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

newyear_4212

Pedestrians hold their ears as firecrackers explode in a Chinatown street in Yokohama, Japan, during the Lunar New Year celebrations Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)

newyear_4211

Japanese worshippers pray at Mazu temple during the Lunar New Year celebration in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)

newyear_4208

North Korean refugee Lee Dong-woon, 82, left center, and his family members pay to respect for their ancestors in North Korea in front of the barbed wire fence as they celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, in Paju, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. About 32 million people will visit their hometowns during the five-day holiday that begins Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

newyear_4205

A worshipper touches a statue of a rabbit during the China's Lunar New Year at the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

North Korea Koreas Cl_Lea.jpg

Tens of thousands of North Koreans attend a New Year's rally to display loyalty to leader Kim Jong-il in the central Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/APTN)

PENN.jpg

Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin answers a question during the Outback Bowl NCAA college football media day news conference on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, in State College, Pa. Penn State plays Florida on New Year's Day in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Pat Little)