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:
-
An endless stretch of sky
-
Plum-headed parakeet
-
Patchwork of peace
-
A bridge that holds up history
-
A shallow sea
-
Two hungry baby beavers
-
Rocks and sand in the Sahara, Algeria
-
International Mountain Day
-
Tour de France
-
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA
-
Lake Bled, Slovenia
-
World Water Day
-
Macaroni penguins
-
Gemsboks in the savannah, Botswana
-
Isn’t this view mesmerizing?
-
International Day of Light
-
Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
-
Widespread and long-eared
-
Victoria Street in Edinburgh, Scotland
-
International Day of the Tropics
-
Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim, Ireland
-
The mountains are calling
-
World Turtle Day
-
Her legend and mystery endure
-
Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
-
Celebrating an American Icon
-
Rolands Breach, Spain
-
A longstanding ode to love
-
Frosty Finland
-
Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany