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
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World Honey Bee Day
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World Rivers Day
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Past below, future ahead
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Halloween
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Beach huts, Southwold, Suffolk Heritage Coast, England
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Who’s snoozing?
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Let’s have a lek, see?
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Pick your paradise
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An island made from a vow
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Go fly a kite!
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Chinese New Year
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More of a moustache than a beard?
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Marine Day, Japan
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Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
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Sossusvlei sand dunes, Namib desert, Namibia
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International Whale Shark Day
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World Nature Conservation Day
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Cherry blossoms at East Lake Cherry Blossom Park, Wuhan, China
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Spring equinox
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Blueberries growing in the wild
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Coastal redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California, United States
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Aerial view of Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
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Belogradchik Rocks, Bulgaria
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World Elephant Day
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Lavender field, Hertfordshire, England
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Muir Woods National Monument, California, United States
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Amber waves of grain
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The beauty that lies below
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Glastonbury Festival begins
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Amber Fort, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

