December 31
December 31 is the 366th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 0 days remain until the year's end. It falls in winter (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Capricorn.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On December 31 the Sun's declination is approximately -23.0°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a December 31.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States)
- 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)
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2020 — The World Health Organization issues its first emergency use validation for a COVID-19 vaccine. ↗(6 years ago)more
A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine designed to induce immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 vaccines help reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death from the virus.
2019 — 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. ↗(7 years ago)more
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has six regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide.
2018 — Thirty-nine people are killed after a ten-story building collapses in the industrial city of Magnitogorsk, Russia. ↗(8 years ago)more
On 31 December 2018, at approximately 6:02 a.m. local time, an apartment block in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, partially collapsed. The collapse killed 39 people and injured 17 more. The cause of the collapse is believed to have been a gas explosion.
2015 — 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. ↗(11 years ago)more
Downtown Dubai or The Dubai Downtown is a large-scale, mixed-use complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was developed by the Emaar real estate development company. Before 2000, this area was called Umm Al Tarif.
2014 — A New Year's Eve celebration stampede in Shanghai kills at least 36 people and injures 49 others. ↗(12 years ago)more
On 31 December 2014, a deadly crush occurred in Shanghai, near Chen Yi Square on the Bund, where around 300,000 people had gathered for the new year celebration. Thirty-six people were killed and another 49 were injured, and of those 49 injured, 13 were injured seriously.
2011 — NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon. ↗(15 years ago)more
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the United States' civil space program and for research in aeronautics and space. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NASA operates ten field centers across the U.S.
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 of 36 tornadoes touched down, resulting in the deaths of nine people and $113 million in damages. ↗(16 years ago)more
A destructive and deadly three-day-long tornado outbreak impacted the central and lower Mississippi Valley from December 30, 2010, to January 1, 2011. Associated with a low pressure system and a strong cold front, 37 tornadoes tracked across five states over the length of the severe event, killing nine and injuring several others.
- 2009 — Both a blue moon and a lunar eclipse occur. ↗(17 years ago)
more
A blue moon refers either to the presence of a second full moon in a calendar month, to the third full moon in a season containing four, or to a moon that appears blue due to atmospheric effects.
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). ↗(22 years ago)more
Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a 508-meter, 101-story skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan. It is owned by the Taipei Financial Center Corporation. It was officially classified as the world's tallest building from its opening on 31 December 2004, until it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in 2009.
2001 — Rwanda adopts a new national flag and anthem. ↗(25 years ago)more
The national flag of Rwanda is a horizontal tricolour of light blue, yellow, and green, in a 2:1:1 ratio, charged with a golden sun in the upper fly-side corner. It was adopted on 31 December 2001 and replaced the flag adopted shortly before independence.
1999 — The first President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, resigns from office, leaving Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as the acting President and successor. ↗(27 years ago)more
The president of Russia, officially the president of the Russian Federation, is the executive head of state of Russia. The president is the chair of the Federal State Council and the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces. It is the highest office in Russia.
1999 — 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. ↗(27 years ago)more
The Panama Canal is an artificial 82-kilometer (51-mile) waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a conduit for maritime trade between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
Notable births
2002 — Ryan Flamingo, Dutch footballer ↗(24 years ago)more
Ryan Flamingo is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Eredivisie club PSV.
2002 — Sophia Laforteza, Filipino-American singer ↗(24 years ago)more
Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza is a Filipino and American singer. In 2024, she made her debut as the leader of the girl group Katseye, formed through the 2023 reality show Dream Academy created by Hybe and Geffen Records.
2002 — Joe Scally, American soccer player ↗(24 years ago)more
Joseph Michael Scally is an American professional soccer player who plays as a full-back for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach and the United States national team.
2001 — Katie Volynets, American tennis player ↗(25 years ago)more
Katie Volynets is an American professional tennis player. She has a career-high singles ranking of world No. 56 by the WTA, achieved on July 29, 2024.
2000 — Alycia Parks, American tennis player ↗(26 years ago)more
Alycia Michelle Parks is an American professional tennis player. She has a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 40, achieved August 14, 2023, and a career-high doubles ranking of world No. 27, set on September 11, 2023.
1999 — Calvin Bassey, Italian-Nigerian footballer ↗(27 years ago)more
Calvin Chinedu Bassey is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back or a centre-back for Premier League club Fulham and the Nigeria national team.
Notable deaths
2024 — Arnold Rüütel, Estonian politician, 3rd President of Estonia (born 1928) ↗(2 years ago)more
Arnold Rüütel was an Estonian politician. He was the third President of Estonia from 8 October 2001 to 9 October 2006. Rüütel was the second president of the country after the end of the 1944–1991 Soviet occupation, and the restoration of the independent Republic of Estonia on 20 August 1991.
2024 — Johnnie Walker, British radio DJ (born 1945) ↗(2 years ago)more
Peter Waters Dingley, known professionally as Johnnie Walker, was an English radio disc jockey and broadcaster. He began his career in 1966 on pirate radio station Swinging Radio England before joining Radio Caroline. He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969 and BBC Radio 2 in 1998.
2023 — Cale Yarborough, American Hall of Fame racing driver and founder of Cale Yarborough Motorsports, NASCAR Cup Series champion (1976, 1977, 1978) (born 1939) ↗(3 years ago)more
William Caleb Yarborough was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner, businessman, farmer, and rancher. He was the first driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships, winning in 1976, 1977, and 1978. He was one of the preeminent stock car drivers from the 1960s to the 1980s and also competed in IndyCar events.
2022 — Pope Benedict XVI, German Roman Catholic cardinal and theologian, pope (2005–2013) and archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982) (born 1927) ↗(4 years ago)more
Pope Benedict XVI was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. Following his resignation, he chose to be known as "pope emeritus", a title he held until his death on 31 December 2022.
2022 — Barry Lane, English golfer (born 1960) ↗(4 years ago)more
Barry Douglas Lane was an English professional golfer. He won five official European Tour events between 1988 and 2004. He played in the 1993 Ryder Cup and won the inaugural Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf in late 1995. After reaching 50 he had considerable success on the European Senior Tour, winning eight times between 2010 and 2019.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (366) | 2 × 3 × 61 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (0) | 0 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 31122026 · next palindrome year: 2113 |
| Sun declination | -23.00° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 11 days |