What Happened on December 31 in History?
December 31st, popularly known as New Year's Eve, is far more than just a night for celebrations. Historically, it has served as a pivotal date for the end of empires, the birth of global corporations, and breakthroughs in technology.
Here is a look at what happened on December 31 in history:
🌍 Major World Events
1600: The British East India Company was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I. This corporation would eventually go on to rule large parts of the Indian subcontinent and influence global trade for centuries.
1891: Ellis Island in New York opened its new immigration depot, which became the gateway for millions of people seeking a new life in the United States.
1991: The Soviet Union officially dissolved. While the USSR's end was a process, December 31 was the final day its institutions functioned before they were replaced by the Russian Federation and other sovereign states.
1992: Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. In a peaceful "Velvet Divorce," the country split into two independent nations: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
1999: The U.S. Handed Over the Panama Canal. Complying with the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties, the United States officially transferred control of the canal and the Canal Zone to Panama.
💡 Science, Tech & Culture
1879: Thomas Edison’s Light Show. Edison gave the first public demonstration of his incandescent light bulb in Menlo Park, New Jersey, forever changing how the world lives after sunset.
1907: The First Ball Drop. The tradition of the New Year's Eve ball drop began in New York City's Times Square. The first ball was made of iron and wood, weighed 700 pounds, and was covered with 100 light bulbs.
1929: "Auld Lang Syne." Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" as a New Year's Eve song for the first time on the radio, cementing it as the holiday's anthem.
1995: The End of Calvin and Hobbes. Bill Watterson published the final original strip of his beloved comic, featuring Calvin and his tiger sledding into a fresh, snowy horizon.
🎂 Notable Birthdays
1869: Henri Matisse. Iconic French painter and leader of the Fauvist movement.
1880: George C. Marshall. U.S. General and architect of the post-WWII Marshall Plan.
1937: Sir Anthony Hopkins. Academy Award-winning actor (The Silence of the Lambs).
1941: Sir Alex Ferguson. Legendary Manchester United manager.
1948: Donna Summer. The "Queen of Disco."
1977: Psy. South Korean musician famous for "Gangnam Style."
🕯️ Notable Passings
1972: Roberto Clemente. The legendary Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder and humanitarian died in a plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
2021: Betty White. The beloved "Golden Girl" and TV icon passed away at the age of 99, just weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
2022: Pope Benedict XVI. The former head of the Catholic Church passed away at age 95, nearly a decade after his historic resignation.
