Happy New Year! Jan. 1, 2026

Do you feel as if you have a whole year"s worth of rest to catch up on? Then you can relate to this Arctic fox, cosily tucked among the rocky outcroppings of the frozen tundra. Whether the new year greets you with biting cold or under a warm sun, take five extra minutes to stretch before diving into the 365 days ahead. Ever wondered why we have 365 days in a year? It"s because the Gregorian calendar—introduced in 1582—is based on a solar year: the time it takes Earth to orbit the sun. The stars have our backs, but the plans we make for the months ahead are all on us.

© Chansak Joe/Getty Images

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Today in History

Napping near the North Pole
Jan. 1, 2024Happy New Year!
Jan. 1, 2025Happy New Year!

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Jan. 22, 2024Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Dec. 31, 2023Happy New Years Eve!
Jul. 13, 2024International Rock Day
A cantilevered window to the past
Oct. 21, 2025Happy Diwali!
The sea pool of Penzance
Dec. 8, 2023La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
Jul. 6, 2025Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, United States
Feb. 1, 2025Rolands Breach, Spain
Creating a better world
Dec. 25, 2024Merry Christmas!
What the heck is a distaff?
Poetry in suspense
Sep 6, 2026Lake Fyans, Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia
A pair of high achievers
May 8, 2025World Donkey Day
Apr. 20, 2026Buckets on maple trees collecting sap for maple syrup
Dec. 17, 2025Eurasian red squirrel in Northumberland, England
Sep 18, 2026Winnats Pass, Peak District National Park, England
Oct. 9, 2023Thanksgiving Day
The beauty that lies below
A glowing square of squares
May 23, 2026World Turtle Day
Jul. 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
A modern recreation
Jul. 4, 2025Skipper butterfly on an Echinacea flower
Dec. 4, 2025International Cheetah Day
Feb. 18, 2026Przewalskis horses
Frosty Finland
Jul. 17, 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France