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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Cinco de Mayo
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Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
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Bonifacio on the island of Corsica, France
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Celebrating the International Day of Forests
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Agüero, Huesca province, Spain
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Giving Tuesday
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Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
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World Theater Day
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Flower of Life symbol drawn in snow
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Tokyo welcomes a futuristic new art museum
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Lionfish off the coast of Indonesia
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National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
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The Elbe in Dresden, Germany
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Milky Way over Zabriskie Point, California
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Ruins of Inca temples and terraces on Huayna Picchu, Peru
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‘You should see the one that got away!’
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World of WearableArt Awards
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Keyholes to the kingdom
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A hint of spring
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Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival
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One for the books
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Birds of a feather flocking together
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A snuggling ball of cute
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Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin
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Preveli Gorge
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Uredd Rest Area, Norway
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Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
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Day of the Dead
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Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica
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Celebrating World Wildlife Day
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

