It's time to say good bye to an eventful 2008 and welcome 2009. Take a look at how people all around the world welcomed the new year with great enthusiasm.

It's time to say good bye to an eventful 2008 and welcome 2009. Take a look at how people all around the world welcomed the new year with great enthusiasm. In photo: Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour during the pre-New Year's celebrations on Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

School children hold the figure 2009 as others wave during a function to welcome the year 2009 at a school in Ahmadabad, india, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.

Balloons are released into the air to celebrate the New Year in Sao Paulo, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.

The New Year's ball is raised surrounded by fireworks in preparation for its descent at midnight in Times Square, New York, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Dignitaries clap as the New Year's ball is raised surrounded by smoke in Times Square, New York, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Allison Smith of Jacksonville, Florida, left, tries to keep warm as she and others take part in the New Year's Eve festivities in New York's Times Square Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Fireworks explode over the London Eye on the bank of the River Thames in London to mark the start of the New Year, Thursday Jan. 1, 2009.

Fireworks explode over the London Eye on the bank of the River Thames in London to mark the start of the New Year, Thursday Jan. 1, 2009.

From left, Emiko Katano, Kana Chiguchi, Naoko Miyata and Yumiko Shimizu, all from Nagoya, Japan, take part in the New Year's Eve festivities in New York's Times Square Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Silhouetted by the Space Needle, Joe Myxler, left, proposes to Polly Yerkovich at Seattle's Kerry Park on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, Dec., 31, 2008.

Fireworks go off behind a Lego replica of New York City during a New Years celebration at Legoland, Calif. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 in Carlsbad, Calif.

Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour during the pre-New Year's celebrations on Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Performers dressed in costumes walk on a street during New Year Eve celebration in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Revelers hold balloons featuring 2009 as they celebrate during the 2009 New Year countdown event in Hong Kong late Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.

Fireworks explode from the Taipei 101 building during the New Year's celebrations, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Taipei, Taiwan.

Malaysian people dance in front of a laser and water show reading "2009" during New Year Celebrations in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.

Fireworks light the sky above the Cathedral Square in Vilnius shortly after midnight, greeting the New Year, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. Thousands of people celebrated the beginning of the New Year 2009 in the Lithuanian capital. Berlin's light artist Gert Hof, who also showed his work during the opening of the Sydney Olympics 2000 and during a show in New York's Central Park, created this light show. The light performance by Gert Hof opens programme Vilnius-European Capital of Culture 2009 and celebrates the Millennium of Lithuania's Name.

Fireworks light the sky above the Cathedral Square in Vilnius shortly after midnight, greeting the New Year, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. Thousands of people celebrated the beginning of the New Year 2009 in the Lithuanian capital. Berlin's light artist Gert Hof, who also showed his work during the opening of the Sydney Olympics 2000 and during a show in New York's Central Park, created this light show. The light performance by Gert Hof opens programme Vilnius-European Capital of Culture 2009 and celebrates the Millennium of Lithuania's Name.

Fireworks light the sky above the Cathedral Square in Vilnius shortly after midnight, greeting the New Year, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. Thousands of people celebrated the beginning of the New Year 2009 in the Lithuanian capital.

Fireworks light the sky above the Quadriga at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin shortly after midnight, greeting the New Year, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009. Hundred thousands of people celebrated the beginning of the New Year 2009 in Germany's capital

Fireworks light the sky during the New Year's celebrations shortly after midnight in Minsk, Belarus, Jan. 1, 2009.

Fireworks light the sky during the New Year's celebrations shortly after midnight in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.

Fireworks explode in the sky to celebrate the New Year at Imjingak near the border village of the Panmunjom, north of Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan 1, 2009.

The Taipei 101 skyscraper celebrates the New Year with a display showing '2009 Taiwan', Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Taipei, Taiwan.

Fireworks explode in the sky to celebrate the New Year at Imjingak near the border village of the Panmunjom, north of Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Jan 1, 2009.

Filipino revelers watch a fireworks display in suburban Manila, Philippines during celebrations of New Years Day on Thursday Jan. 1, 2009.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a New Year's Eve vespers service, at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008. Pope Benedict XVI is calling for 'sobriety and solidarity' in 2009 as the world struggles with economic and social woes. His appeal was made amid the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica during a New Year's Eve vespers service on Wednesday. Benedict described these times as being 'marked by uncertainty and worry for the future.'

Fireworks are seen over the Red Square as people gathered to celebrate New Year in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.