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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An ocean of stars above the desert
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Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand
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A light in the coastal darkness
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Channel Country, Australia
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Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
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Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary
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Unbe-leaf-able
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Ahead of the curve
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Waterborne wizardry
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St James Tidal Pool, Cape Town, South Africa
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It’s party time
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Apples ready for harvest, Minnesota, United States
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Just a pinch
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Groundhog Day
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A braided river
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Black-naped monarch
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Tulips, Netherlands
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Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany
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The staircase of the Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
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A herd of impalas, Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa
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Will we be ready for the ‘big one?’
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A deadly coast
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Happy Fat Tuesday!
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Jorvik Viking Festival
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Towering trees of Tuscany
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Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
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What are these colorful insects?
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Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
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Jurassic Coast, Dorset, England
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Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

