COVID-19 vaccine
The World Health Organization issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine.
What happened on December 31
35 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 1759 to 2024.
Standout on December 31
2019
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is informed of cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause, detected in Wuhan. This later turned out to be COVID-19, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.
About December 31
December 31 is the 365th day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 365 of 365 (366 in leap years)0 days left in the year (0 in leap years)
- Falls on
- Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028, Monday in 2029, Tuesday in 2030
- Week
- ISO week 53 of 2026 · Q4
- Zodiac sign
- ♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
- Season
- Winter in the north · Summer in the south
- December birthstone
- Turquoise / Tanzanite / Zircongood fortune, wisdom and success
- December birth flower
- Narcissus / Holly / Poinsettiarespect, hope and good wishes
- Next occurrence
- In 65 days
- Roman numerals
- XXXI.XIIday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 40thDupont Plaza Hotel arson1986
- 30thJ. J. Arcega-Whiteside1996
- 25thFlag of Rwanda2001
- 25thKatie Volynets2001
- 20thWar in Somalia (2006–2009)2006
- 10thWilliam Christopher2016
- 5thBetty White2021
December 31 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- William Christopher
- 25 years ago2001
- Flag of Rwanda · Katie Volynets
- 50 years ago1976
- Nothing recorded
- 100 years ago1926
- Nothing recorded
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on December 31 — ages this year
- 2002Joe Scallyturns 24
- 2002Ryan Flamingoturns 24
- 2002Sophia Lafortezaturns 24
- 2001Katie Volynetsturns 25
- 2000Alycia Parksturns 26
- 1999Leif Davisturns 27
Historical events 35
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is informed of cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause, detected in Wuhan. This later turned out to be COVID-19, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2018 Magnitogorsk building collapse
Thirty-nine people are killed after a ten-story building collapses in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, Russia.
Downtown Dubai
A fire breaks out at the Downtown Address Hotel in Downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates, located near the Burj Khalifa, two hours before the fireworks display is due to commence. Sixteen injuries were reported; one had a heart attack, another suffered a major injury, and fourteen others with minor injuries.
2014 Shanghai stampede
A New Year's Eve celebration stampede in Shanghai kills at least 36 people and injures 49 others.
NASA
NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon.
2010 New Year's Eve tornado outbreak
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 of 36 tornadoes touched down, resulting in the deaths of nine people and $113 million in damages.
Blue moon
Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occur.
War in Somalia (2006–2009)
War in Somalia: Transitional Federal Government forces attacked the last stronghold of the Islamic Courts Union in the town of Jilib.
Taipei 101
Taipei 101 (pictured) in Taipei, Taiwan, opened to the public as the world's tallest building.
Flag of Rwanda
Rwanda adopts a new national flag and anthem.
Vladimir Putin
Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin became acting president upon President Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation.
Indian Airlines Flight 814
Indian Airlines Flight 814 hijacking ends after seven days with the release of 190 survivors at Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan.
Torrijos–Carter Treaties
In accordance with the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal Zone from the United States.
President of Russia
The first President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, resigns from office, leaving Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the acting President and successor.
Panama Canal
The U.S. 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.
European Exchange Rate Mechanism
The European Exchange Rate Mechanism froze the exchange rates of the legacy currencies in the eurozone, establishing the value of the euro.
Calvin and Hobbes
The final comic of Calvin and Hobbes is published.
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War: The Russian Ground Forces begin a New Year's storming of Grozny.
Kiribati
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.
Brandon Teena
Brandon Teena, an American trans man, was raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska; his death led to increased lobbying for hate crime laws in the United States.
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia is peacefully dissolved in what is dubbed by media as the Velvet Divorce, resulting in the creation of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.
Soviet Union
All official Soviet Union institutions have ceased operations by this date, five days after the Soviet Union is officially dissolved.
Dupont Plaza Hotel arson
Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing more than 90 people and injuring 140 others, making it the second-deadliest hotel fire in American history.
Wells and Wellington affair
Two Australian biologists published an article titled "A Synopsis of the Class Reptilia in Australia", initiating the Wells and Wellington affair.
Roberto Clemente
Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente (pictured) died in a plane crash en route to deliver aid to victims of that year's Nicaragua earthquake.
Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Central African military officers led by Jean-Bédel Bokassa began a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko.
RTÉ
RTÉ, Ireland's first television network, began broadcasting.
Korean War
Korean War: North Korean troops attacked United Nations forces in the first of two battles at Wonju.
Manhattan Bridge
The Manhattan Bridge, connecting Lower Manhattan to Downtown Brooklyn and considered to be the forerunner of modern suspension bridges, opened to traffic.
Times Square Ball
New York City held its first annual ball drop event in Times Square as part of New Year's Eve celebrations.
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, began with an engagement in which both sides would suffer their highest casualty rates in the American Civil War.
Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria announced the choice of Ottawa , then a small logging town, to be the capital of the British colony of Canada.
American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War: At the Battle of Quebec, British forces repulsed an attempt by the Continental Army to capture Quebec City and enlist French Canadian support.
Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum to the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin and began brewing Guinness.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough, American Hall of Fame racing driver and founder of Cale Yarborough Motorsports, NASCAR Cup Series champion (1976, 1977, 1978) (born 1939)
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI, German Roman Catholic cardinal and theologian, pope (2005–2013) and archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982) (born 1927)
Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington
Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington, British soldier and politician (born 1915)
Holidays & observances 8
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
Novy God
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Novy God Eve (Russia)
Ōmisoka
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Ōmisoka (Japan)
First Night
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States)
Hogmanay
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: The first day of Hogmanay or "Auld Year's Night" (Scotland)
Public holidays in the Philippines
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Last Day of the Year or Bisperás ng Bagong Taón, special holiday between Rizal Day and New Year's Day (Philippines)
International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis
International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)
December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Pope Sylvester I
Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church)
Spread across the centuries
- 18th century2
- 19th century2
- 20th century36
- 21st century35
Earliest: Arthur Guinness (1759). Most recent: Arnold Rüütel (2024).
What the categories mean, and how the standout is chosen
- Historical events
- A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Births
- A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
- Deaths
- A notable person who died on this day.
- Milestones
- A first, a founding or a turning point our editors flagged as a landmark moment.
- Holidays & observances
- A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
- Standout / notable
- Editor-written entries come first, then entries covered by the most Wikipedia language editions. For the standout tile we prefer an entry that has a picture.
Nearby and related
Questions about December 31
What day of the year is December 31?
December 31 is the 365th day of the year, with 0 days left after it.
What star sign is December 31?
December 31 falls under Capricorn (December 22 – January 19), a earth sign ruled by Saturn. The birthstone for the month is Turquoise or Tanzanite or Zircon.
How many things happened on December 31?
We record 83 entries for December 31: 35 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 1759 to 2024.
Who was born on December 31?
Joe Scally (2002) is among the notable births on December 31. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the December 31 page updated?
The day is filled the first time anyone opens it and then re-checked for new entries about every 90 days. Computed facts such as the weekday and the anniversaries update every year.
Get a daily entry like December 31
One short email a day from this calendar. Kept for this site only.
Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.