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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Blue paradise on the Costa Brava
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Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York
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Happy Fourth of July!
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50 years of Earth Day
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Steyr River, Austria
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Flag Day
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Flying high on National Bird Day
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A personal collection becomes an institution
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Three Natural Bridges, Wulong Karst, China
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Native American Heritage Month
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A monster view in Scotland
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World Water Day
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Celebrating National Park Week, April 21-29
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Women s suffrage at 100
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Great horned owl
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Arctic fox in Norway
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Glowworm caves in Australia
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World Reef Awareness Day
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Indigenous Peoples Day
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A reflection of Europe s past
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World Bee Day
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International Beaver Day
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Modica, Sicily, Italy
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The circular castle of Cornwall
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Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
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Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Dreaming of the Tyrrhenian Sea
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Walk the line
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Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
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The Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland
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