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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Plate ice along Lake Superior, Grand Marais, Minnesota
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An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan
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Freeze frame
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Autumn comes to the Porcupines
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Aurora borealis
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This reef is nowhere near the sea…
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It s time for spring
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Cue up the tango music
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Let the Highland games begin
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Bangkok, Thailand
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Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
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Go Fly a Kite Day
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High tide at the walled city
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Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
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Veterans Day
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Moai statues on Easter Island, Chile
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Veterans Day
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Panda Day
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Acadia transformed
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The Badlands celebrates a milestone
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Bohemian Switzerland
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Nature Photography Day
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Four little birds sitting in a tree…
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Moving as one
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Ruins of a royal temple
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A bohemian feline
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US Election Day
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Staring down winter
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Jupiter and the Galilean moons
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American bison
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

