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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Groundhog Day
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Land of the midnight sun
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River Quoich in Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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World Frog Day
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Green fields of grain
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Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia
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Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC
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When Death Valley blew its top
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World Penguin Day
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Plate-billed mountain toucan with orchids, Ecuador
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Sands of time
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Basking in the glow
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A bull, some flowers, and a stratovolcano
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Three cheers for polar bears!
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Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
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A fortress in the sky
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Manatee Awareness Month
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Shadows on the solstice
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Taiwan yuhinas in Alishan National Scenic Area
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World Reef Day
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Relationship status: It s complicated
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Jackie Robinson Day
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Pups of the prairie
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The Guggenheim Bilbao turns 25
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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
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Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
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Southern lights for Antarctica Day
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Happy Mother’s Day
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Lighting the way to new beginnings
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An old celebration for a new season
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

