Confetti flies around the ball and countdown clock in Times Square on New Year's Eve in New York Jan. 1, 2015.REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
It's officially here. Are you ready for 2015? You may have had a New Year's Eve party and written down resolutions, but part of preparing is knowing what's ahead. For example, did you know that Adele, Kanye West and Madonna are all expected to release new albums? And that it's the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta? Didn't think so.
Grab a Sharpie and your calendar. Here's a partial list of sports, political, international and entertainment events coming this year:
January
Thursday, Jan. 1: Lithuania adopts the euro.
Saturday, Jan. 3: Newly elected U.S. senators and representatives will be sworn in, making Congress officially Republican-run, CBC News reported.
Sunday, Jan. 11: Golden Globes
Saturday, Jan. 17: Africa Cup of Nations begins
Monday, Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Day
February
Sunday, Feb. 1: Super Bowl
Monday, Feb. 8: Africa Cup of Nations ends
Friday, Feb. 13: "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie release
Saturday, Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
Monday, Feb. 16: Presidents' Day
Thursday, Feb. 19: Chinese New Year
Sunday, Feb. 22: Daytona 500, Academy Awards
March
Friday, March 6: NASA spacecraft Dawn is expected to arrive at Ceres, a dwarf planet and the largest object in the asteroid belt. Dawn will take high-quality pictures of the surface.
Sunday, March 8: Daylight Saving Time starts
Tuesday, March 17: St. Patrick's Day
April
sometime: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to have their second child, a brother to Prince George. He or she will be fourth in line to the throne.
Saturday, April 4: Passover begins
Sunday, April 5: Easter
Saturday, April 11: Passover ends
Wednesday, April 15: Tax Day
Friday, April 24: Arbor Day
May
Saturday, May 2: Kentucky Derby
Tuesday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo
Sunday, May 10: Mothers' Day
Friday, May 15: "Pitch Perfect 2" release
Monday, May 25: Memorial Day
June
Saturday, June 6: FIFA Women's World Cup begins
Friday, June 12: "Jurassic World" release
Sunday, June 14: Flag Day
Friday, June 19: "Inside Out" Pixar release
Sunday, June 21: Father's Day, Summer Solstice
July
Saturday, July 4: Independence Day, Tour de France begins
Sunday, July 5: FIFA Women's World Cup ends
Saturday, July 18: Eid al-Fitr
Sunday, July 26: Tour de France ends
August
sometime: David Letterman is likely to retire. Stephen Colbert will take over "The Late Show" once his contract ends.
September
Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day
Thursday, Sept. 10: Queen Elizabeth II will officially be the longest-reigning monarch in United Kingdom history, The Guardian reported.
Friday, Sept. 11: Patriot Day
Monday, Sept. 14: Rosh Hashana
Wednesday, Sept. 23: Yom Kippur
October
Monday, Oct. 12: Columbus Day
Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween
November
Sunday, Nov. 1: Daylight Saving Time ends
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day, Diwali
Friday, Nov. 20: "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 2" release
Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving
December
Monday, Dec. 7: Hanukkah begins
Monday, Dec. 14: Hanukkah ends
Friday, Dec. 18: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" release
