Fireworks over Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada Dec 31, 2024

New Year"s Eve, also known as Old Year"s Day, is celebrated around the world with revelry, fireworks and for some, religious and cultural observances. Many countries celebrate with foods symbolic of prosperity, long life and good fortune for the coming year, and many people sing Scottish folk song "Auld Lang Syne" at the stroke of midnight to remember old friends and past experiences. The new year is often personified as a baby, a tradition that dates back to ancient Greeks, often paired with an old man who represents the previous year.

© naibank/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Dec 31, 2023Phra Nakhon Khiri, Thailand
Dec 31, 2025Oberbaum Bridge, Berlin, Germany

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 4, 2024Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
Feb 18, 2024Sperm whale
Dec 30, 2023Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
Mar 5, 2024Bangkok, Thailand
Oct 6, 2023Taughannock Falls State Park, New York, USA
Aug 7, 2024St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan, USA
Oct 28, 2023Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Jan 2, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, India
May 12, 2024Guanaco mother and baby
Sep 3, 2024Crystal Lake in the Enchantments, Washington, United States
Oct 20, 2023Pygmy three-toed sloth
Oct 30, 2025Camels, Rajasthan, India
Jan 31, 2024Burchells zebras
Mar 6, 2024Wahclella Falls, Oregon, USA
Dec 8, 2023La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
Apr 5, 2024The Bahamas
Mar 17, 2025Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin, Ireland
May 8, 2025Donkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada, United States
Apr 15, 2025Castillo de La Calahorra, Granada, Spain
Nov 2, 2025Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Jul 11, 2024Gangi, Sicily, Italy
Dec 15, 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy
Feb 16, 2025Humpback whale mother and calf
Jul 18, 2025Eucalyptus forest, Urubici, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Aug 28, 2023Dubrovnik, Croatia
May 26, 2025Hozugawa River in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Sep 21, 2023Inside the Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo, Norway
Mar 29, 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
Oct 4, 2024World Space Week
Sep 4, 2025Grizzly bears