Bringing in the New Year, the fresh start, the clean slate, a hopeful resolution, or even the continuation of something great, the world celebrates …. and celebrates …. and celebrates with a peculiar sense of excitement.

Let’s take a look at how the world shed 2010 and boldly stepped into 2011.

New York, U.S. – The legendary ball drop in Time Square.

London, England – The traditional red, white, and blue fireworks that encompass, Parliament, the London Eye, and the River Thames.

Italy – Illegal fireworks, “shot off in squares and alleys – a tradition that usually results in numerous hand and eye injuries.”

France – Rampant youth set fire to dozens of vehicles, also illegal.

Scotland – Beginning with the four-day Hogmanay festival of a night with a torch-lit procession in Edinburgh, nearly 25,000 people marched to “the top of a hill to watch the burning of a model Viking Ship.

Netherlands – People ate deep-fried dough balls covered in powdered sugar and washed it down with champagne.

Austria – They waltz in the New Year, carrying radios and dancing to Strauss’ “Blue Danube.”

Denmark – People jump off chairs to “leap into the new year.”

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – A gathering of 2 million people on Copacabana beach for fireworks, music, and grand party.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Extravagant fireworks shot from Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

South Korea – 80,000 people watched a traditional bell ringing ceremony and fireworks.

Japan – Monks chanted while citizens released hundreds of silver balloons with notes inside.

Vietnam – An estimated 55,000 people counted down to the New Year in a rave party in front of Hanoi’s elegant French colonial-style opera house.

Hong Kong, China – Fireworks set off from the city’s 10 most famous buildings and seen along Victoria Harbor.

Australia – 1.5 spectators witnessed the midnight sky sparkling with colorful fireworks over Sydney Harbor.

Spain – 50,000 people wearing colored wigs gathered in Madrid’s central Puerta del Sol square and ate a grape for each of the 12 chimes of midnight.

Whatever the tradition may be around the globe, hope is a common ingredient to usher in the New Year.

It’s the New Year… while this may be a time of hope and anticipation… it might be hard to top 2010 for crazy events and happenings!

We’ve sifted through a lot of “year in review” lists from our favorite blogs and sites… Here are a few highlights:

From Politico: The 10 worst decisions of 2010. Highlight: “Eric Massa’s tickle defense”

From The Daily Beast: 14 Best Late Night TV Moments of the Year. Highlight: “The Sometime at Night Show with Some White Guy”

From Gawker: And Now They’re Dead: People We Lost in 2010. (Giving a highlight here feels rude.)

From New York Magazine’s Vulture blog: The 50 Greatest Vulture Slideshows of 2010. Highlight: It’s a list of the best lists of the year. What’s not to love, if you love lists?

From NPR Music: 50 Favorite Albums of 2010. Highlight: Arcade Fire’s ‘The Suburbs’

From Buzzfeed: The 30 Most Important Cats of 2010. Highlight: Cat hugging his teddy bear

From the “Today Show”: “Today” Looks Back at 2010’s Newsmakers. Highlight: Kanye West (enough said)

And for all of the cynics/list-haters out there… From Politics Daily and Walter Shapiro: Why I Hate Year-End List Stories — a Rant with a List. Highlight: Perspective.

There’s a good mix there, but comment and show us something you’ve seen that we missed!

Check out DJ Earworm’s annual mash-up of the top 25 songs of the year, named by Billboard, and rock out while you prepare for the new year!