WATCH: World-wide New Year Celebrations Mark End of Difficult Decade

Pomp and Circumstance

New Zealand was the first to ring in the New Year followed by Australia and Taipei, Taiwan. Incredible fireworks displays and computerized light show dazzled the thousands of revelers.

The celebrations continued in Moscow's Red Square, Paris, London and in Rio de Janeiro. "I have many wishes for 2010!" exclaimed Ramona Vlada, 28, of Romania. "I wish to be healthy, love and to be loved at the same time, be with the family and make a family even bigger."

However, the grandest celebration of all took place at the crossroads of the world -- New York City's Times Square where Dick Clark counted down the famous ball drop.

Later the celebrations continued at Chicago's Navy Pier, the Las Vegas Strip and over the Space Needle in Seattle.