Happy New Year"s Day! Humans have celebrated the new year since at least 2000 BCE, but various cultures have chosen different days coinciding with equinoxes or lunar cycles. The Romans established January 1 as the beginning of the year in 153 BCE, but this fell out of favour throughout Europe during the medieval era. Since 1582 and the widespread adoption of the Gregorian calendar, however, much of the world now celebrates the new year today. In addition to watching fireworks, drinking champagne and making resolutions in the wee hours of the morning, other global traditions include making noise, eating lucky foods and giving gifts.
Happy New Year!
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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The sprout with amazing potential
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A shiver of sharks on the hunt
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Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
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Sea Otter Awareness Week
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Santa slalom
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Taughannock Falls State Park, New York
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Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
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Tower Bridge, London, England
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World Art Day
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Happy Thanksgiving!
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International Talk Like a Pirate Day
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Christmas Bird Count turns 125
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Collared aracari
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Dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
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Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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A cantilevered window to the past
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Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
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The origin of Canadas national parks
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Where are these illuminated walkways?
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A different kind of toucan
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High above the Aegean Sea
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Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland
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A flashy, frigid waterfowl
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Playa del Silencio, Spain
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Paddle power
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This magical beach is worth the hike
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Blue-throated toucanet, Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica
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‘Only one Earth’
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Three petals and three leaves
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Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach, California, United States
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

