Tina Fineberg, The Associated PressRevelers hold up balloons forming the "2019" as they take part in the New Year's Eve festivities in New York's Times Square, Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.
Faith Ninivaggi, BostonHeraldSophie's Smokin' Squeezebox performs for tourists and Bostonians in the walking through the Boston Common on New Years Eve. Dec. 31, 2018
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver PostNew year's eve revelers Mariam Aleal, left, and Jemana Alawadhi get ready to take on the bitter cold to watch the fireworks along the 16th street mall on Dec. 31, 2018 in Denver. Denver hosted two fireworks displays one at 9:00pm and the other at midnight to ring in the new year of 2019.
Andy Wong, The Associated PressWorshippers offer prayers on the first day of the New Year at Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. New Year's Eve isn't celebrated widely in mainland China, where the lunar New Year in Feb. is a more important holiday. But countdown events were held in major cities, and some of the faithful headed to Buddhist temples for bell-ringing and prayers.
Swimmer run into the chilly water of Lake Balaton during the 8th annual New Year's swimming in Szigliget, southwest of Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Jan.1, 2019.
Michel Euler, The Associated PressFrench policemen stand guard before the New Year's Day celebrations on the Champs Elysees, in Paris, Monday, Dec. 31, 2018. Paris is preparing to hold its annual New Year's Eve celebrations on the Champs-Elysees under heavy security as some yellow vest protesters are planning to march on the famed avenue.
Lucas BARIOULET , AFPPeople take pictures with their mobile phones of fireworks exploding over the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees for New Year's celebrations in the French capital Paris on Jan. 1, 2019. - A fireworks display and sound and light show under the theme "fraternity" is set to go ahead on the Champs-Elysees despite plans for further "yellow vest" anti-government protests at the famed avenue. LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP/Getty Images
Ulet Ifansasti, Getty ImagesFireworks illuminate the city's skyline during New Year's Eve celebrations of 2018 on Jan. 1, 2019 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Brett Hemmings, Getty ImagesFireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House during the midnight show during New Year's Eve celebrations on Dec. 31, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. *** BESTPIX ***
Jure Makovec , AFPPeople swim and jump into the water during a traditional New Year's swim in the Adriatic sea in Portoroz, Slovenia on Jan. 1, 2019. JURE MAKOVEC/AFP/Getty Images
Philippe HUGUEN , AFPRevelers take part in the traditional "Bain des Givres" as part of the New Year's celebrations on Jan. 1, 2019 at Malo-Les-Bains beach in Dunkirk, northern France. PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images
Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' EveJenny McCarthy reports from a bubble during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2019 on Dec. 31, 2018 in New York City.
Frank Franklin II, The Associated PressConfetti drops over the crowd as the clock strikes midnight during the New Year's celebration in Times Square as seen from the Marriott Marquis in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019.
John Locher, The Associated PressRevelers watch at Drai's nightclub as fireworks explode on the Las Vegas Strip during a New Year's celebration Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Las Vegas.
Tijana Martin, The Canadian Press via APPeople skate in the rain during the New Year's Eve celebration held at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.
Lintao Zhang, Getty ImagesChinese people celebrate the New Year during the New Year's Eve on Dec. 31, 2018 in Beijing, China. China prepares a countdown event on December 31 to welcome the new year 2019.
Tolga AKMEN , AFPParticipants take part in the annual New Year's Day Parade in central London, on Jan. 1, 2019. TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images
Craig Ruttle, The Associated PressRevelers celebrate and embrace on Times Square in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, as they take part in a New Year's Eve celebration.
Craig Ruttle, The Associated PressA New York City police officer is covered with confetti in Times Square in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, as people take part in the New Year's celebration.
Filippo MONTEFORTE , AFPMarco Fois of Italy dives from the Cavour bridge into Rome's river Tiber as part of traditional New Year celebrations on Jan. 1, 2019. FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Daniel RAMALHO , AFPA couple salutes Iemanja, the goddess of the sea from the ancient Yoruba mythology and one of the most popular deities of the Afro-Brazilian culture, on the shore of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on New Year's Eve on Dec. 31, 2018. DANIEL RAMALHO/AFP/Getty Images
HSU Tsun-hsu , AFPFireworks explode from Taipei 101 building during Taipei New Year's Eve countdown party in Taipei, Taiwan on Jan. 1, 2019. HSU TSUN-HSU/AFP/Getty Images
Brian OTIENO , AFPA boy burns steel wool to make sparks during New Year celebrations in the Kibera slum in Nairobi on Jan. 1, 2019. BRIAN OTIENO/AFP/Getty Images
Getty Images, AFPThis picture taken early on Jan. 1, 2019 shows fireworks erupting in the sky during the 2019 new year celebrations in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
J. David Ake, The Associated PressSpectators watch the first sunrise of the new year from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington early Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019.
Tina Fineberg, The Associated Press
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Revelers hold up balloons forming the "2019" as they take part in the New Year's Eve festivities in New York's Times Square, Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.
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By Amy Brothers | abrothers@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
From Toronto to Brazil people from around the world rang in 2019 with traditions and festivities.
It rained on the crowds in New York’s Time Square on New Year’s Eve. In Denver, party goers braved single digit temperatures. New Year swims and plunges into icy water ushered in 2019 in Szigliget, Hungary, and Rome, Italy.
There was increased security at celebrations in Paris, France, but many came out to watch the fireworks over the Arc de Triomphe. Fireworks also exploded over the Sydney Harbour in Australia; in Yogyakarta, Indonesia; and in in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. And bands played music in the streets of London.