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 favour 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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World Bee Day
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Racing through the five boroughs
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Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
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All is calm
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Rabindra Jayanti
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Barn swallows of different subspecies resting together
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Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
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An ocean of stars above the desert
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Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island, Canada
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The pillar of democracy
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Nap your worries away
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Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
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Virginia Creeper Trail, Damascus, Virginia, United States
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J.R.R. Tolkien Day
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A public restroom or a tourist spot?
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Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand
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Blue-throated toucanet, Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica
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African elephants in Namibia
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Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
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Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
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Happy Onam!
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Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy
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Rolands Breach, Spain
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A different kind of toucan
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Happy New Year!
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Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, UK
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International Ice and Snow Festival, Harbin, China
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Kedarkantha, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
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A female Eurasian red squirrel, Switzerland
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International Literacy Day
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

