It might just be a turn of the calendar, but for most, the new year brings renewed hope, a time for resolutions for improvement and a chance to celebrate the year past. Each country and culture celebrates the coming of a new year differently, but most involve fireworks and loud cheers. Here's a look at some of the most unique New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world. <p> We start our trip in Italy where fireworks explode high above the <a href="http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/VCEHIHI-Hilton-Molino-Stucky-Venice/index.do?WT.srch=1" target="external">Hilton Molino Stucky Venice</a> hotel.

The Scots certainly know how to ring in the new year. In Edinburgh, <a href="http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/" target="external">the Hogmanay celebration</a> lasts for five entire days (Dec. 29 to Jan. 2) and includes more than 20 events, such as the famous Torchlight Procession and Night Afore celebrations, the legendary Royal Bank Street Party (the largest New Year street party in the world) and the stunning Seven Hills fireworks. If you're brave enough, you can even take part in the aptly-named Loony Dook on Jan. 1, which involves a bracing plunge into the icy waters of the River Forth.

In <a href="http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html" target="external">Switzerland</a>, Santa Clauses with their picturesquely decorated masks mark New Year's Eve in Urnaesch, Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Here, the holiday is celebrated on Jan. 13 thanks to the Julian calendar.

Hong Kong's famous harbor is always known for its amazing lights, but on New Year's Eve the show is taken up a notch with extravagant holiday displays and, of course, fireworks.