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 favor 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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Bridge of Hillsborough County
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Palace of Westminster, London, England
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Legacy mural in Philadelphia
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Rock of ages
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A path lain with petals
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Crested caracaras
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The Guggenheim turns 60
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Signs of life in the Empty Quarter
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Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
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It’s NASA’s 60th birthday
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The dancing trees of Sumba Island
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National Gardening Week
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Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic
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A light at the edge of the world
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What does the fox dream?
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Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh, India
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A cliff-hanging complex of temples
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Cousins Day
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Skyscraper Day
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Why, aloe there
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Big Bend National Park in Texas turns 81
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Caribou on the move
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A sea of swirling stone
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White trilliums blooming in Ontario, Canada
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These laurels are hardy
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Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
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White Desert National Park, Egypt
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Surf s always up in Paia
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Splashes of color for Watercolor Month
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Why you should thank a nurse today
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