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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If these walls could talk...
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A one-of-a-kind splash
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Gemsboks in the savannah, Botswana
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Blue as far as the eye can see
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Happy Hogmanay!
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Beauty by the bay
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Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
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Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
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Ever seen garlic bloom?
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Nuuk, Greenland
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Mylopotamos, Thessaly, Greece
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Living rock
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Medieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, Georgia
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Remembrance Sunday
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Porto, Portugal
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Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
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Sport where you least expect it
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Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
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Frosty Finland
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Pollinator Week
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Rock River Falls, Upper Peninsula, Michigan, United States
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Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
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Doves of peace
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What’s your favorite colour?
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Young black caiman, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
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Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
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Koala
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European fallow deer in England
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Bardenas Reales Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park, Navarra, Spain
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Temple of Philae, Aswan, Egypt
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

