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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Tomb of the Golden Pharaoh
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Its puffling season!
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Winter solstice
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Fragrant fields as far as the eye can see
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Step back in time...
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Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
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The road less taken?
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Bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, United States
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International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
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World Childrens Day
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Blooming sunflowers
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Green sea turtle
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Chattooga River in the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina, USA
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Red fox mother kissing her baby
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A young bull moose, Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
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Stop and smell the Sakura
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St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
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Independence Day of the Bahamas
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When landscape met wilderness
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International Mountain Day
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Waitangi Day in New Zealand
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International Day for Biological Diversity
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Angry bird, doting dad
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Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
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Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
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Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
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Where is this majestic museum?
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Past below, future ahead
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International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
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Glastonbury Festival begins
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

