From New York to Baghdad to Sydney, New Year’s revelers welcomed 2008 with parties, fireworks and hopes for peace and prosperity.从纽约到巴格达，再到悉尼，世界各地的人们开起了party、燃起了焰火，满怀着和平与繁荣的希望，迎接2008年的到来。

　　Baghdad witnessed something Iraq had not seen since the 2003 invasion — people publicly partying to welcome in a new year. The ballrooms of several hotels were full of people for New Year’s Eve celebrations.在伊拉克首都巴格达，几家酒店的俱乐部聚满了庆祝新年的人们，这是自2003年美国入侵伊拉克以来巴格达人首次举行公开聚会迎接新年。

　　Several European countries rang in the new year in new ways.欧洲的几个国家则以新的方式迎接新年。

　　The smoke-filled cafe became a thing of memory in France. Cigarettes were prohibited in all indoor locations such as dance clubs, restaurants, hotels, casinos and cafes from Jan 1, 2008.法国，烟雾缭绕的酒吧已成往事。从今年1月1日起，法国在舞厅俱乐部、餐馆、酒店、赌场和咖啡厅等所有室内场所实行禁烟。

　　President Nicolas Sarkozy gave the first traditional New Year’s greeting of his presidency, with a "message of hope, faith in life and in the future."法国总统尼古拉斯•萨科奇发 表了就任总统以来的首次新年致辞，表达了“对生活与未来的希望与信念”。总统向全国民众致以新年问候是法国的一大传统。

　　In Russia, Vladimir Putin delivered the last New Year’s Eve address of his eight-year presidency, boasting of economic improvements and claiming to have restored a sense of unity among Russians, who are likely to see him stay in power as prime minister after he steps down in a few months.俄罗斯总统普京则是最后一次以总统的身份向全国发表新年祝 词。普京执政八年以来，俄罗斯的经济状况明显改善，民众团结得以恢复。普京将于几个月后卸任总统一职，并可能出任下届国家总理。

　　In Moscow, thousands gathered in Red Square, watching a concert beneath the onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, and fireworks above.在俄罗斯首都莫斯科，数千人聚集 在红场，观看在圣华西里大教堂的洋葱式圆顶下举行的新年演唱会，还欣赏了教堂上空的焰火表演。

　　Along with the innovations, old traditions were maintained.除了这些新鲜的庆祝方式外，一些旧传统也被沿袭。

　　More than a million revelers in New York’s Times Square cheered at the 100th drop of a giant ball. A century ago the tradition began with a 700-pound ball of wood and iron, lit with 100 25-watt incandescent bulbs. This year’s event featured an energy-efficient sphere clad in Waterford crystals, with 9,576 light-emitting diodes that generated a kaleidoscope of colors.在纽约时代广场，一百多万新年狂欢者为水晶球降落仪式举行一百周年而欢呼喝彩。该传统始于一世纪前，当时的大球由木头和铁打造而成，重达700磅，装有100个 25瓦的白炽灯泡。而今年的水晶球则采用了节能技术，球体外表覆盖着一层沃特福德水晶，内置9576个发光二极管，发出五彩的光芒。

　　In London, people gathered in Trafalgar Square and along the banks of the River Thames to watch a fireworks display and hear Big Ben welcome the New Year with 12 resounding bongs.在英国伦敦，人们聚集在特拉法尔加广场和泰晤士河畔观看焰火表演，聆听“大本钟”敲响新年钟声，“大本钟”那12下浑厚的钟声回荡在夜空。

　　China started its Olympic year with a New Year party including fireworks, singing and dancing put on by the organizer of the Summer Olympics.在中国，2008年夏季奥运会主 办城市北京举办了喜迎“奥运年”的大型主题活动，其中包括焰火表演和歌舞类节目。

　　In Sydney — one of the first cities to celebrate the New Year — one million revelers cheered as fireworks sprayed from the iconic Harbor Bridge on the New Year’s Eve.悉 尼是最早迎来新年的城市之一。新年前夜，悉尼的标志性建筑海港大桥上空绽放出美丽的烟花，100多万狂欢者欢呼跃雀。