The New Year's Eve parties started a whole day early on the South Pacific island nation of Samoa, after a hop across the international date line transported the country 24 hours into the future - making it the first in the world to ring in the new year.
Samoans began celebrating under a rainbow of fireworks at the stroke of midnight on Thursday, December 29 - when the country skipped over Friday and moved straight into 12:01 a.m. on December 31.
Samoa and neighbouring Tokelau lie near the date line that zigzags vertically through the Pacific Ocean, and both sets of island decided to realign themselves this year from the Americas side of the line to the Asia side, to be more in tune with key trading partners.
The time-jump revelry in Samoa continued throughout Saturday as the hours ticked down to 2012.
Pools and beaches across the capital Apia were packed with Samoans and tourists celebrating the country's sudden position as the first in the world to ring in the new year, rather than the last.
Despite the extended festivities, Samoan police said there had been no reports of any problems.
"More than 90% of our people really appreciate the change, and that contributes to its success," said one official.
Elsewhere across the globe, people prepared to say goodbye to a year that was marked by upheaval and mass protests in several Arab countries, economic turmoil and a seemingly endless string of devastating natural disasters.
In Australia, people began crowding onto the shores of Sydney's glittering harbour early today in a bid for the best spot to watch the midnight fireworks extravaganza over the Harbour Bridge.
For Japan, 2011 was the year the nation was struck by a giant tsunami and earthquake that left an entire coastline destroyed, nearly 20,000 people dead or missing and the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in meltdown.
At the year's end, many in Japan were left reflecting on the fragility of life, while remaining quietly determined to recover.
People across Japan were expected to spend today visiting shrines and temples, offering their first prayers for the year. The giant hanging bell at temples will ring 108 times to purify the world of evil and bring good luck.
In Hong Kong, more than 400,000 people were expected to watch the four-minute, one million US dollar display of fireworks that will shoot off from 10 skyscrapers, lighting up the city's famed Victoria Harbour.