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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Sep. 4, 2023Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
Aug. 25, 2025Colony of northern gannets in Quebec
Feb. 27, 2024International Polar Bear Day
Dec. 9, 2024Guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
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May 17, 2025A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
Wait, mountain—you shall bear my castle!
Dec. 13, 2023Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Sep. 5, 20242024 Toronto International Film Festival
Nov. 12, 2023Diwali
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Jun. 23, 2025Elbe river in Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Jul. 2, 2025Spine-cheeked anemonefish
Jun. 3, 2024World Bicycle Day
Sep. 23, 2025Keel-billed toucan, Costa Rica
An island made from a vow
Keep practicing, little guy
May 19, 2025Victoria Day
Jan. 31, 2025Happy International Zebra Day!
King of the jungle? Nope
Dec. 23, 2025Reindeer, Lapland, Finland
An experiment in sustainability
Nov. 23, 2025Fibonacci Day
Apr. 11, 2024Dragon waterfall, Venezuela
Nov. 13, 2025Distillery Winter Village
Dec. 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Jan. 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Where the rainbow ends
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