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
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Picture perfect
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Paranormal activity?
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Penguin Awareness Day
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Singing the blues
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National Trails Day
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Amur leopard cat, Russia
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A beautiful labyrinth
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Bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, United States
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Mount Fuji Day
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Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany
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Common clownfish, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
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Happy Fathers Day!
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Burning the Clocks
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Telašćica Nature Park, Dugi Otok, Croatia
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A Balearic islet
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Aerial view of land and ocean, Victoria, Australia
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Great North Run
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Grandparents Day
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International Lighthouse Weekend
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Boardwalk over Balkan lakes
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Balloon Ascension Day
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Boreal owl
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Great wildebeest migration at Mara River, Kenya
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International Beaver Day
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Ah‑Shi‑Sle‑Pah Wilderness, New Mexico, United States
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See-through cephalopod
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Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England
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South Downs Dark Skies Festival
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Lands End, Cornwall, England
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European bee-eater in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Cádiz, Spain
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