On This Day — December 31

🕰️ Notable Events on December 31

• 2015 — A fire broke out at the Downtown Address Hotel in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates located near the Burj Khalifa 2 hours before the fireworks display was due to commence. 16 injuries were reported; one had a heart attack, another suffered a major injury, and fourteen others with minor injuries, Wikipedia ↗
• 2014 — A New Year's Eve celebration stampede in Shanghai kills at least 36 people and injures 49 others. Wikipedia ↗
• 2011 — NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon. Wikipedia ↗
• 2010 — Tornadoes touch down in midwestern and southern United States, including Washington County, Arkansas; Greater St. Louis, Sunset Hills, Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma, with a few tornadoes in the early hours. A total 36 tornadoes touched down, resulting in the deaths of nine people and $113 million in damages. Wikipedia ↗
• 2009 — Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occur. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — The official opening of Taipei 101, the tallest skyscraper at that time in the world, standing at a height of 509 metres (1,670 ft). Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — First President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, resigns from office, leaving Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the acting President and successor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — The United States Government hands control of the Panama Canal (as well all the adjacent land to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone) to Panama. This act complied with the signing of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking ended after seven days with the release of 190 survivors at Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1998 — The European Exchange Rate Mechanism freezes the values of the legacy currencies in the Eurozone, and establishes the value of the euro currency. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — This date is skipped altogether in Kiribati as the Phoenix Islands and Line Islands change time zones from UTC−11:00 to UTC+13:00 and UTC−10:00 to UTC+14:00, respectively. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — The First Chechen War: Russian army began a New Year's storming of Grozny. Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Czechoslovakia is peacefully dissolved in what is dubbed by media as the Velvet Divorce, resulting in the creation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — All official Soviet Union institutions have ceased operations by this date 5 days after the Soviet Union is officially dissolved. Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Arson at the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico kills 97 people and injures 140. Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — United Kingdom founds a member state of UNESCO. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government. Wikipedia ↗
• 1983 — In Nigeria a coup d'état led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari ends the Second Nigerian Republic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — A coup d'état in Ghana removes President Hilla Limann's PNP government and replaces it with the Provisional National Defence Council led by Flight lieutenant Jerry Rawlings. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — The first flight of the Tupolev Tu-144, the first civilian supersonic transport. Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Jean-Bédel Bokassa, leader of the Central African Republic army, and his military officers begins a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — The Central African Federation officially collapses, subsequently becoming Zambia, Malawi and Rhodesia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — RTÉ, Ireland's state broadcaster, launches its first national television service. Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — General Motors becomes the first U.S. corporation to make over US$1 billion in a year. Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — The Marshall Plan expires after distributing more than US$13.3 billion in foreign aid to rebuild Europe. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — President Harry S. Truman officially proclaims the end of hostilities in World War II. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Hungary declares war on Nazi Germany. Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — World War II: Operation Nordwind, the last major German offensive on the Western Front begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — The first New Year's Eve celebration is held in Times Square (then known as Longacre Square) in Manhattan. Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar signs the Persian Constitution of 1906. Wikipedia ↗
• 1879 — Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Wikipedia ↗
• 1878 — Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, filed for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine, and he was granted the patent in 1879. Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln signs an act that admits West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two. Wikipedia ↗
• 1862 — American Civil War: The Battle of Stones River begins near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Wikipedia ↗
• 1857 — Queen Victoria chooses Ottawa, then a small logging town, as the capital of Canada. Wikipedia ↗
• 1853 — A dinner party is held inside a life-size model of an iguanodon created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Sir Richard Owen in south London, England. Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — Gramercy Park is deeded to New York City. Wikipedia ↗
• 1796 — The incorporation of Baltimore as a city. Wikipedia ↗
• 1790 — Efimeris, the oldest Greek newspaper of which issues have survived till today, is published for the first time. Wikipedia ↗
• 1775 — American Revolutionary War: Battle of Quebec: British forces repulse an attack by Continental Army General Richard Montgomery. Wikipedia ↗
• 1759 — Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000 year lease at £45 per annum and starts brewing Guinness. Wikipedia ↗
• 1757 — Empress Elizabeth I of Russia issues her ukase incorporating Königsberg into Russia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1687 — The first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope. Wikipedia ↗
• 1660 — James II of England is named Duke of Normandy by Louis XIV of France. Wikipedia ↗
• 1600 — The British East India Company is chartered. Wikipedia ↗
• 1501 — The First Battle of Cannanore commences. Wikipedia ↗
• 1229 — James I of Aragon the Conqueror enters Medina Mayurqa (now known as Palma, Spain) thus consummating the Christian reconquest of the island of Majorca. Wikipedia ↗
• 1225 — The Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty. Wikipedia ↗
• 870 — Battle of Englefield: The Vikings clash with ealdorman Æthelwulf of Berkshire. The invaders are driven back to Reading (East Anglia), many Danes are killed. Wikipedia ↗
• 535 — Byzantine general Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating the Gothic garrison of Palermo (Panormos), and ending his consulship for the year. Wikipedia ↗
• 406 — Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gaul. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 31

• 1995 — Gabby Douglas, American gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1993 — Ryan Blaney, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Amy Cure, Australian track cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Karl Kruuda, Estonian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Camila Giorgi, Italian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Bojana Jovanovski, Serbian tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Patrick Chan, Canadian figure skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Javaris Crittenton, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Danny Holla, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Émilie Le Pennec, French gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Nemanja Nikolić, Hungarian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Nate Freiman, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Kade Snowden, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jonathan Horton, American gymnast Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Jan Smit, Dutch singer and television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Ben Hannant, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Édgar Lugo, Mexican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Calvin Zola, Congolese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Julio DePaula, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Craig Gordon, Scottish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Luke Schenscher, Australian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — The Rocket Summer, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Jason Campbell, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Matthew Pavlich, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Margaret Simpson, Ghanaian heptathlete Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Ricky Whittle, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Jesse Carlson, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Matt Cross, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Richie McCaw, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Carsten Schlangen, German runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Paul O'Neill, English race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Jeff Waldstreicher, American lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Wardy Alfaro, Costa Rican footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Psy, South Korean singer-songwriter, producer, and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Donald Trump, Jr., American businessman and son of billionaire Donald Trump Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Luís Carreira, Portuguese motorcycle racer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Matthew Hoggard, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Rami Alanko, Finnish ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Toni Kuivasto, Finnish footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Rob Penders, Dutch footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Sander Schutgens, Dutch runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Joe Abercrombie, English author Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Mario Aerts, Belgian cyclist Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Tony Kanaan, Brazilian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Ryan Sakoda, Japanese-American wrestler and trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Shandon Anderson, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Malcolm Middleton, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Curtis Myden, Canadian swimmer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Joey McIntyre, American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Brent Barry, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Esteban Loaiza, Mexican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Jorge Alberto da Costa Silva, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Danny McNamara, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Carlos Morales Quintana, Spanish-Danish architect and sailor Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Bryon Russell, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Gerry Dee, Canadian comedian, actor, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Junot Diaz, Dominican-born American novelist, short story writer, and essayist Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Paul McGregor, Australian rugby league player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Tony Dorigo, Australian-English footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Julie Doucet, Canadian cartoonist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Gong Li, Chinese actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Indian cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Nicholas Sparks, American author, screenwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Winston Benjamin, Antiguan cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Michael McDonald, American comedian, actor, and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Scott Ian, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Tyrone Corbin, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Chris Hallam, English-Welsh swimmer and wheelchair racer (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Rick Aguilera, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Jeremy Heywood, English economist and civil servant Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Steve Bruce, English footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Liveris Andritsos, Greek basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Val Kilmer, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Phill Kline, American lawyer and politician, Kansas Attorney General Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Baron Waqa, Nauruan composer and politician, 14th President of Nauru Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Paul Westerberg, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Geoff Marsh, Australian cricketer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Bebe Neuwirth, American actress and dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Robert Goodwill, English farmer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Helma Knorscheidt, German shot putter Wikipedia ↗
• 1956 — Steve Rude, American author and illustrator Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Alex Salmond, Scottish economist and politician, 4th First Minister of Scotland Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Hermann Tilke, German race car driver and engineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Jane Badler, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Vaughan Jones, New Zealand mathematician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Jean-Pierre Rives, French rugby player, painter, and sculptor Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Tom Hamilton, American bass player and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Kenny Roberts, American motorcycle racer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Phil Blakeway, Welsh-English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Bob Gilder, American golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Inge Helten, German sprinter Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Cheryl Womack, American businesswoman Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Susan Shwartz, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Ellen Datlow, American anthologist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Joe Dallesandro, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Sandy Jardine, Scottish footballer and manager (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — René Robert, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Donna Summer, American singer-songwriter (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Burton Cummings, Canadian singer-songwriter and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Rita Lee, Brazilian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Tim Matheson, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Roy Greenslade, English journalist and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Bryan Hamilton, Northern Irish footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Raphael Kaplinsky, South African international development academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Pius Ncube, Zimbabwean archbishop Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Lyudmila Pakhomova, Russian ice dancer (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Cliff Richey, American tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Eric Robson, Scottish journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Nigel Rudd, English businessman, founded Williams Holdings Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Tim Stevens, English bishop Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Diane von Fürstenberg, Belgian-American fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Connie Willis, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Taylor Hackford, American director, producer, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — John Denver, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (d. 1997) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Ben Kingsley, English actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Pete Quaife, English bass player, author, and artist (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Andy Summers, English guitarist, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Alex Ferguson, Scottish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Sarah Miles, English actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Mani Neumeier, German drummer Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Willye White, American sprinter and long jumper (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Rosalind Cash, American singer and actress (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Atje Keulen-Deelstra, Dutch speed skater (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Avram Hershko, Hungarian-Israeli biochemist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Anthony Hopkins, Welsh actor, director, and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Barry Hughes, Welsh footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Tess Jaray, Austrian-English painter and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Salman of Saudi Arabia, King of Saudi Arabia Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan, Indian author, poet, and scholar Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Edward Bunker, American author, screenwriter, and actor (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Don James, American football player and coach (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Felix Rexhausen, German journalist and author (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Bob Shaw, Northern Irish journalist and author (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Odetta, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Jaime Escalante, Bolivian-American educator (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Mies Bouwman, Dutch television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Peter May, English cricketer (d. 1994) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Ross Barbour, American pop singer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Tatyana Shmyga, Russian actress and singer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Siné, French cartoonist (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Veijo Meri, Finnish author and translator (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Valerie Pearl, English historian and academic (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Billy Snedden, Australian lawyer and politician, 17th Attorney-General for Australia (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Irina Korschunow, German author and screenwriter (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Sri Lal Sukla, Indian author (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Daphne Oram, British composer and electronic musician (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Taylor Mead, American actor and poet (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Giannis Dalianidis, Greek actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Tomás Balduino, Brazilian bishop (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 31 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on December 31

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: New Year's Eve (DK,SE,VE) · Fiesta de Fin de Año (VE) · Last Day of The Year (PH) · Restoration Day (CH) · วันสิ้นปี (TH)