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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Where the humpback whale sings
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A beautiful labyrinth
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Ring of Brodgar, Orkney, Scotland
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Butterfly, fly away
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Aspens near Marble, Colorado, USA
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World Population Day
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An endless stretch of sky
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International Day of the Snow Leopard
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Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
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South Downs Dark Skies Festival
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International Day for Monuments and Sites
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Shell-ebrating sea turtles
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Swedish wilderness
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Blue as far as the eye can see
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World Nature Conservation Day
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City of ice
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Tufted titmouse, Massachusetts, United States
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World Jellyfish Day
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Greater flamingos, Lüderitz, Namibia
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A magical resting place
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Colourful houses of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Noah Beach, Queensland, Australia
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Leap Day
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World Theatre Day
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Grand National
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Festival of British Archaeology
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European river otter
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Rufous hummingbird, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, United States
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Italica, an old Roman city in Santiponce, Andalusia, Spain
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We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

