In Dubai fireworks exploded from the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building while revelers in central Moscow watched the spectacular display over the Kremlin.
Later on, the parade would be used more often for Mardi Gras celebrations, where revelers would don costumes and process down the roads in celebrations just prior to Lent.
Kicking off at midnight, the fifteen-minute light show is preceded by music and art performances, as the festivities prepare revellers to bid farewell to the old year and all its bad luck.
Few revelers gave much thought to why Bezos's wife, author MacKenzie, 49, had skipped the party-or to Bezos's chatting on and off with news anchor Lauren Sanchez.
Mysterious streaks of light were seen in the sky in the Sacramento area Friday night, shocking St. Patrick's Day revelers who then posted videos on social media of the surprising sight.
Modern revelers have taken up the tradition, gathering at dawn the day after the longest night to witness the magical occurrence of the sun rising through the stones.
The festival is held mostly outside, welcoming some 125,000 revelers daily from all over the nation and abroad, many of whom camp and fill up hotels nearby.