Happy New Year! Jan. 1, 2024

Welcome to 2024! Did you stay up late last night to ring in the new year? If so, we wouldn"t blame you for sleeping in like this red fox in Abruzzo, Italy. Whenever you wake up, New Year"s Day is a great opportunity for reflection, planning and a sense of renewal for the year that stretches out before us. January 1 has been a big day since the Julian calendar was widely adopted in 45 BCE, and as its use spread across the world—eventually modified in 1582 by the Gregorian calendar to better calculate leap years. Whether you"re taking the day to watch a parade, attend a sports game, take a chilly dip or write resolutions, we hope it"s the beginning of a great year to come.

© marco vancini/500px/Getty Images

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Today in History

Napping near the North Pole
Jan. 1, 2025Happy New Year!
Jan. 1, 2026Happy New Year!

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Nov. 29, 2025Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
Oct. 3, 2024Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Jan. 5, 2026A herd of impalas, Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa
Jun. 14, 2025Cinque Torri, Dolomites, Italy
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Mar. 10, 2026Bláhver, Hveravellir, Iceland
May 9, 2025Canadian Tulip Festival
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Pearl among the emeralds
Jan. 4, 2026Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska, United States
Nov. 5, 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
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Feb. 1, 2024Polar bear, Churchill, Manitoba
A painters palette of natures hues
May 18, 2026International Museum Day
Aug. 19, 2025Vancouver Island, British Columbia
May 30, 2025Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
Jan. 3, 2026J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Mar. 1, 2026Snowy owl near the Canadian Rockies
Postcard from Italy
Where fire and water meet
A life-sized snow globe
Jan. 2, 2026Aerial view of Venice, Italy
A blue-tiful island
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May 20, 2026World Bee Day
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Nov. 27, 2025Eastbourne Pier, East Sussex, England