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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Im ready for my close-up, Mr. DeSquirrel
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A day of swing and celebration
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Male hooded merganser, Oregon, United States
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Like a waterfall, free and wild
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Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
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Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
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Holiday hues
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Stars in daylight
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site
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World Environment Day
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Thanksgiving Day
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Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone
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A duckling swimming in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
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International Archaeology Day
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A window to the Pacific
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Strong sibling bonds
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Meet for lunch?
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World Migratory Bird Day
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What are these beautiful sandy waves?
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World Giraffe Day
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Colourful bathing huts on the beach in Skåne County, Sweden
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Hop into Lunar New Year
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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Pegadung Rock, Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia
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A city so nice, they made it twice
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St. James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
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Diwali
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Celebrating our looming lunar neighbour
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Positively purple peaks
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Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

