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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Grizzly bear and cub
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You otter check this out
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Walruses in Svalbard, Norway
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International Tea Day
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Celebrating Festivus
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Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island, Berlin
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Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy
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World Environment Day
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When life imitates art
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Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
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A blue-tiful island
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Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
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Whats blooming so brightly?
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International Day of the Tropics
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Sunlight turning silver to gold
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Straight out of a fairytale
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Talampaya National Park, Argentina
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This museum sets the prairie on fire
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Kochia, Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
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Turtle-y nice day for a swim
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Stop and smell the Sakura
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Rocks and sand in the Sahara, Algeria
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Pinnacles National Park, California, United States
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Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
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A peck between penguins
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Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
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Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
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Cinque Torri, Dolomites, Italy
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Poinsettia Day