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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Follow the teacher!
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Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Kirkjufell, Iceland
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A shiver of sharks on the hunt
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A labyrinth of luxury
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Last night of the Proms
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Oktoberfest begins
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Spine-cheeked anemonefish
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Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
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We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
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Passing with flying colours
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Go with the flow
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Colourful house in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
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Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone
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Jorvik Viking Festival
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Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
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Incan ingenuity
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Happy Easter!
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Thorrablot: The Icelandic midwinter festival
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The staircase of the Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
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Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
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The play’s the thing
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Hogmanay
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Widespread and long-eared
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Happy St Patricks Day!
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A chocolate lovers favourite fruit
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Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
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Ljubljana, Slovenia
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The world’s greatest oasis?
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