World Welcomes 2015: See the Most Spectacular Celebrations Around the Globe

Even North Korea had a blast as 2015 dawned.

ByABC News
January 1, 2015, 2:30 AM

— -- Happy new year!

Fireworks, light shows, music and other revelry blazed around the globe from Australia and Asia, through Europe and to the Americas.

Amid the revelry, however, there was also tragedy. In Shanghai, China, 35 people died and 43 were injured in a stampede during New Year's Eve celebrations shortly before midnight, government officials said, according to The Associated Press.

Elsewhere, however the shows went on, with drones capturing Sydney's New Year's light and fireworks show and LED lights on a skyscraper underpinning one of the evening's most lavish displays in Dubai.

In the United States, an estimated 1 million people packed Time Square in New York to ring in 2015.

Revelers in New York count down to 2015.
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New Year's in Times Square

Revelers in New York count down to 2015.
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Chris and Chelsea Crawford, of Scotland, share a kiss at midnight in Times Square during a New Year's Eve celebration, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in New York. Thousands braved the cold to watch the annual ball drop and ring in the new year.

"Best day of my life apart from the day we got married," Christopher Crawford told ABC News station WABC. He and his wife Chelsea traveled to New York from Paisley, Scotland, and kissed when the clock struck midnight.

"There are no words for it," said Chelsea Crawford. "It's fantastic."

Fireworks exploded over the Strip in Las Vegas.

Fireworks explode above the Strip to ring in the new year Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Las Vegas.

In Toronto, revelers packed Nathan Phillips Square.

Fireworks explode in front of City Hall as revelers pack Nathan Phillips Square for New Year's celebrations in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015.

Thousands gathered in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

More than 1 million gather for fireworks.
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New Year's Celebration in Rio de Janeiro

More than 1 million gather for fireworks.
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Fireworks lit up London, Paris, Moscow, and Istanbul.

London rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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United Kingdom Celebrates Arrival of 2015

London rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Revelers welcome the New Year in France with fireworks display.
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Paris Celebrates Arrival of 2015

Revelers welcome the New Year in France with fireworks display.
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Moscow rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Russia Celebrates Arrival of 2015

Moscow rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Istanbul rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Turkey Celebrates Arrival of 2015

Istanbul rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Berlin's light show and fireworks focused on Brandenburg Gate, and were accompanied by Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins.

Fireworks explode during the New Year's party at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Jan. 1, 2015.

The spectacular display in Dubai focused on the 2,722-foot Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, with more than 70,000 LED panels reaching nearly a half a mile into the sky.

Of course, in a city that last year set the Guinness World Record for world's largest firework display, there were plenty of pyrotechnics, too.

Middle East rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Dubai Celebrates Arrival of 2015

Middle East rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Even the hermit nation of North Korea got in on the action.

East Asia rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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North Korea Celebrates Arrival of 2015

East Asia rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sydney, and New Zealand got early starts.

East Asia rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Hong Kong Celebrates Arrival of 2015

East Asia rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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East Asia rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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Taiwan Celebrates Arrival of 2015

East Asia rings in the New Year with fireworks display.
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See the dazzling display from 1,000 feet over Sydney Harbor.
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Drone Captures Sydney New Year's Fireworks

See the dazzling display from 1,000 feet over Sydney Harbor.
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Firework display from the top of the Sky Tower to welcome the New Year on Jan. 1, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand.

ABC News' Michael S. James and Linzie Janis contributed to this report.