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 favor 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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Evidence of human habitation
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Great gray owls in their nest, Finland
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International Literacy Day
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Christmas market, St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest, Hungary
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A midsummer twilight s dream
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Autumn in Alaska
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Christmas Bird Count turns 125
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Milky Way over Zabriskie Point, California
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Winnie-the-Pooh Day
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Short-eared owl
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World Reef Awareness Day
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Duck, duck. duck, duck, duck...
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Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
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Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island, Canada
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Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
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A day to take a moment
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Seventeen arches at sunset
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Summer solstice
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Kissing Day
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Autumn in the Prosecco Hills
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Black History Month
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Riding the bore tide at Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska
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New York City Marathon
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International Surfing Day
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National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC
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Hay bales in North Yorkshire, England
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Lionfish off the coast of Indonesia
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US Election Day
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Memorial Day
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A leafy seadragon in the waters off Wool Bay, Australia
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

