NEW YEAR'S EVE
Every year on December 31st, people around the world celebrate New Year's Eve, the last day of the year. It’s a day to say “goodbye” to the old and “hello” to the new. #NewYearsEve
NATIONAL CHAMPAGNE DAY
National Champagne Day recognizes the wine that puts the pop in every New Year's Eve celebration. #NationalChampagneDay
MAKE UP YOUR MIND DAY
Each year, Make Up Your Mind Day on December 31st encourages us to quit wavering, to take a side, and follow through with a decision and stick to it. #MakeUpYourMindDay
NO INTERRUPTIONS DAY
No Interruptions Day on the last workday of the year sets aside the day to get organized for the new year by cleaning up your workspace without interruptions. #NoInterruptionsDay
LEAP SECOND TIME ADJUSTMENT DAY
Leap Second Time Adjustment Day is listed as an observance title only. Some years scientists do not make adjustments. But, if they do, then it’s done on either June 30 or December 31. #LeapSecondTimeAdjustmentDay
January 1, 2026
National Days
NEW YEAR'S DAY
NATIONAL BLOODY MARY DAY
NATIONAL HANGOVER DAY
Memorable Birthdays for December 31
Francis Trowbridge Sherman (1825-1905) - Brigadier General for the Union Army.
Joseph S. Cullinan (1860-1937) - Co-founder of the Texaco oil company.
Robert G Aitken (1864-1951) - Astronomer who discovered nearly 3,100 new binary stars.
Fred Marriott (1872-1956) - Race car driver who set the world land speed record in 1906.
George Marshall (1880-1959) - Author of the Marshall Plan.
Ben A. Jones (1882-1961) - Horse trainer and champion training winner of the Kentucky Derby.
Mary Logan Reddick (1914-1966) - Neuroembryology scientist who is the first known Black women to receive a fellowship to study abroad (Cambridge University).
Rex Allen (1920-1999) - Actor and singer-songwriter known referred to as the Arizona Cowboy.
Odetta (1930-2008) - Jazz singer dubbed the Voice of the Civil Rights Movement.
Donna Summer (1948-2012) - Disco singer of hits like On the Radio and Last Dance.
Cheryl Womack (1950-Still Living) - Founder of the VCW and National Association of Independent Truckers, Inc.
Kenny Roberts (1951-Still Living) - Motorcycle racer who became the first American to win a Grand Prix World Championship.
Val Kilmer (1959-Still Living) - Actor who had is remembered as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.
Gabby Douglas (1995-Still Living) - The first Black to win an Olympic individual all-around title in gymnastics.
Memorable Events for December 31
1781 - The first bank opens in the U.S. (Bank of North America).
1831 - NY City is deeded Gramercy Park and becomes a private park for the wealthy.
1841 - Alabama becomes the first state to license dental surgeons.
1862 - President Lincoln admits West Virginia to the Union, dividing Virginia into two states.
1879 - Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting in public for the first time.
1904 - The first New Year's Eve party is held in Times Square.
1907 - The first ball drops in Time Square to bring in the New Year.
1934 - Helen Richey becomes the first woman to fly an airmail transport.
1945 - The Ratification of United Nations Charter is finalized and completed.
1946 - President Truman proclaims the end of hostilities in Europe, which officially ends World War II.
1983 - Benjamin Ward becomes the first Black police commissioner in NY City.
1984 - The U.S. leaves UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
1997 - Microsoft buys the Hotmail email client.
