January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Here a calendar year refers to the order in which the months are displayed, January to December. The first day of the medieval Julian year was usually a day other than January 1. This day was adopted as the first day of the Julian year by some European countries between 1522 and 1579 (that is, before the creation of the Gregorian calendar in 1582). The British Empire (including its American colonies) did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. This change can lead to dating confusion between Old Style and New Style dates. The Gregorian calendar as promulgated in 1582 did not specify that January 1 was to be either New Year's Day or the first day of its numbered year. Although England began its numbered year on March 25 (Lady Day) between the thirteenth century and 1752, January 1 was called New Year's Day, which was a holiday when gifts were exchanged.
The Ancient Romans began their consular year on 1 January since 153 BC. During the Middle Ages under the influence of the Christian Church, many countries moved the start of the year to one of several important Christian festivals - 25 December (the Nativity of Jesus), 1 March, 25 March (the Annunciation), or even Easter. Eastern European countries (most of them with populations showing allegiance to the Orthodox Church) began their numbered year on 1 September from about 988.
In England 1 January was celebrated as the New Year festival, but from the 12th century to 1752 the year in England began on 25 March (Lady Day). So for example the Parliamentary record records the execution of Charles I occurring in 1648, (as the year did not end until 24 March,) although modern histories adjust the start of the year to January 1 and record the execution as occurring in 1649.
Most Western European countries changed the start of the year to 1 January before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. For example Scotland changed the start of the Scottish New Year to 1 January in 1600. England, Ireland and the British colonies changed the start of the year to 1 January in 1752. Later that year in September the Gregorian calendar was introduced throughout Britain and the British colonies. These two reforms were implemented by the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750.
In the 9th century, 25th March (the Feast of the Annunciation) was used in parts of southern Europe as the start of a new year. The practice became more widespread in Europe from the 11th century and in England from the late 12th. 1st January started to be used as the start of the year followed:
● 1522 Venice
● 1544 Holy Roman Empire (Germany)
● 1556 Spain, Portugal
● 1559 Prussia, Denmark, Sweden
● 1564 France
● 1576 Southern Netherlands
● 1579 Lorraine
● 1583 United Provinces of the Netherlands (northern)
● 1600 Scotland
● 1700 Russia
● 1721 Tuscany
● 1752 Britain and its colonies
Day of the week in surrounding years:
1979,. . . .,1990,1996,2001—MON—2007
1980,1985,1991,. . . .,2002—TUE—2008
. . . .,1986,1992,1997,2003—WED—. . . .
1981,1987,. . . .,1998,2004—THU—2010
1982,1988,1993,1999,. . . .—FRI—2011
1983,. . . .,1994,2000,2005—SAT—2012
1984,1989,1995,. . . .,2006—SUN—2013
Best Liberal Quote of the Day: On Technology "Sometimes decision-makers expect miracles and transformations to follow the purchase and installation of equipment. This fondness for tools and toys can be wasteful, foolish and nonproductive." — Jamie McKenzie
Stupidest and/or Scariest Quote from the Right for the Day: On Compassionate Conservatism "Unfortunately, the children are very often just the victims of poverty. Unfortunately, a few more children will suffer for the conduct of their parents. But they suffer far more now. What we're trying to do is solve the problems of poverty so there will be fewer poor children." — Rep. E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on human resources, admitting that the so-called "welfare reform" law cause poor children to suffer deprivation. Peter T. Kilborn, "Shrinking Safety Net Cradles Hearts and Hopes of Poor Children," New York Times, 11-30-96.
Dumbest Thing Said for the Day: From the world of Sports "I'd find the fellow who lost it, and, if he was poor, I'd return."—when asked what he would do if he found a million dollars. — Few sports figures—and indeed, few figures of any endeavor—have achieved the verbal notoriety of Lawrence "Yogi" Berra, former catcher of the New York Yankees. This is one of the indescribable utterances of Hall of Shame member #6.
{Disclaimer: I have attempted to give credit to the many different sources that I get entries. Any failure to do so is unintentional. Any statement enclosed by brackets like these are the opinion of the blogger, A Proud Liberal.}
MOON PHASE
Berkeley, California—Times are Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Jan 1, 2008 2:00 AM Name: Waning Crescent Percent of Full: 40% Age: 78% Rise: 1:22 AM Set: 12:12 PM
Surprise, Arizona—Times are Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Jan 1, 2008 2:00 AM Name: Waning Crescent Percent of Full: 40% Age: 78% Rise: 1:35 AM Set: 12:39 PM
Iowa City, Iowa—Times are Central Standard Time (CST)
Jan 1, 2008 2:00 AM Name: Waning Crescent Percent of Full: 41% Age: 78% Rise: 1:20 AM Set: 12:01 PM
Cambridge, Massachusetts—Times are Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Jan 1, 2008 2:00 AM Name: Waning Crescent Percent of Full: 41% Age: 78% Rise: 12:56 AM Set: 11:37 AM
NASA ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY
Rays from an Unexpected Aurora
Credit & Copyright: Lyndon Anderson (Prairie Journal)
Click picture to go to NASA APOD site for full explanation
EVENTS
● 153 B.C.E. - Roman consuls begin their year in office.
● 45 B.C.E. - The Julian calendar takes effect for the first time.
● 404 - The last known gladiator competition in Rome takes place.
● 630 - Prophet Muhammad sets out toward Mecca with the army that will capture it bloodlessly.
● 1001 - Grand Prince Stephen I of Hungary is named the first King of Hungary by Pope Silvester II.
● 1259 - Michael VIII Palaiologos is proclaimed co-emperor of the Empire of Nicaea with his ward John IV Laskaris.
● 1438 - Albert II of Habsburg is crowned King of Hungary.
● 1515 - King Francis I of France succeeds to the French throne.
● 1527 - Croatian nobles elect Ferdinand I of Austria as king of Croatia in the Parliament on Cetin.
● 1600 - Scotland begins its numbered year on 1 January instead of 25 March.
● 1651 - Charles II is crowned King of Scotland.
● 1660 - Samuel Pepys starts his diary.
● 1673 - Regular mail delivery begins between New York and Boston.
● 1700 - Russia numbers its years from Christ instead of Creation.
● 1707 - John V is crowned King of Portugal.
● 1739 - Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier.
● 1772 - The first traveler's cheques, which can be used in 90 European cities, go on sale in London.
● 1781 - Many wounded as mutinous Pennsylvania Revolutionary War troops at Morristown, New Jersey rush from their huts, seize arms, ammunition, and horses, secure six pieces of artillery, and--after subduing three regiments of loyal soldiers--march to Philadelphia to demand back pay from Congress. This will become known as the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1781.
● 1788 - First edition of The Times of London, previously The Daily Universal Register, is published.
● 1797 - Albany replaces Kingston as the capital of New York State.
● 1800 - Socialist planner Robert Owen assumes control of mills at New Lanark, Scotland.
● 1800 - The Dutch East India Company ceases to exist.
● 1801 - Dwarf planet Ceres is discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi.
● 1801 - The legislative union of Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland is completed to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
● 1803 - Emperor Gia Long orders all bronze wares of the Tây Sơn Dynasty to be collected and melted into nine cannons for the Royal Citadel in Huế, Vietnam
● 1804 - Haitian slaves, led by Jean Jacques Desalines, declare independence. Haiti becomes first free black nation-state in the world; U.S. refuses to recognize Haiti for the next 70 or so years.
● 1806 - The French Republican Calendar is abolished.
● 1808 - The importation of slaves into the United States is banned.
● 1831 - First issue of the Liberator, William Lloyd Garrison's abolitionist paper.
● 1832 - First meeting of the New England Anti-Slavery Society.
● 1833 - The United Kingdom claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
● 1834 - "On the first of January, 1834, I left Mr. Covey, and went to live with Mr. William Freeland, who lived about three miles from St. Michael's. I soon found Mr. Freeland a very different man from Mr. Covey. Though not rich, he was what would be called an educated southern gentleman. Mr. Covey, as I have shown, was a well-trained negro-breaker and slave-driver." Life changes in "The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass - An American Slave," an autobiographical account of slavery by Frederick Douglass.
● 1845 - The Cobble Hill Tunnel in Brooklyn is completed.
● 1861 - Porfirio Díaz conquers Mexico City.
● 1863 - The first claim under the Homestead Act is made by Daniel Freeman for a farm in Nebraska.
● 1863 - The provision of the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in rebel states goes into effect, although it has no legal weight since the rebel states are not under U.S. authority. The actual proclamation, issued on Sep. 22, 1862, offered to let any rebel state that rejoined the union before this date keep slavery intact. The principle of what is today considered a document of freedom is that you cannot own another person unless you are loyal to the U.S.
● 1875 - Women weavers form union in Fall River, Massachusetts.
● 1877 - Queen Victoria of Britain is proclaimed Empress of India.
● 1879 - Birth of Hobo King and whorehouse doctor, anarchist sympathizer and one-time lover of Emma Goldman, Ben Reitman.
● 1880 - Ferdinand de Lesseps begins French construction of the Panama Canal.
● 1881 - Paris Commune leader Louis-Auguste Blanqui dies, Paris, France.
● 1883 - Last peace talks held between natives and non-natives at Villarrica, Chile, forced Araucanians onto reservation in southern Chile.
● 1887 - Queen Victoria is proclaimed empress of India in Delhi.
● 1890 - Eritrea is consolidated into a colony by the Italian government.
● 1892 - Ellis Island opens to begin accepting immigrants to the United States.
● 1893 - Japan begins using the Gregorian calendar.
● 1894 - The Manchester Ship Canal, England, is officially opened to traffic.
● 1895 - Birth of J. Edgar Hoover, founder and 50-year leader of America's political police force, the FBI, and one of the world's most famous cross-dressing blackmailers.
● 1898 - New York City annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York. The four initial boroughs, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx, are joined on January 25 by Staten Island to create the modern city of five boroughs.
● 1899 - Spanish rule ends in Cuba.
● 1901 - Nigeria becomes a British protectorate.
● 1901 - The British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia federate as the Commonwealth of Australia; Edmund Barton is appointed the first Prime Minister.
● 1902 - Earl King Gill, Texas A&M University's original 12th Man, is born.
● 1906 - British India officially adopts the Indian Standard Time
● 1908 - For the first time, a ball is dropped in New York City's Times Square to signify the start of the New Year at midnight.
● 1909 - Drilling begins on the Lakeview Gusher.
● 1910 - Captain David Beatty is promoted to Rear Admiral, and became the youngest admiral in the Royal Navy, except for Royal family members, since Horatio Nelson.
● 1910 - National Urban League founded.
● 1911 - Northern Territory is separated from South Australia and transferred to Commonwealth control.
● 1911 - Opening of the Modern School, in New York, With the aid of Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman. Based on the ideas of the Spanish anarchist Ferrer.
● 1912 - The Republic of China is established.
● 1916 - German troops abandon Yaoundé and their Kamerun colony to British forces and begin the long march to Spanish Guinea.
● 1919 - Edsel Ford succeeds his father, Henry Ford, as president of the Ford Motor Company. A later Ford model named after him proves to be an unmitigated failure.
● 1920 - The Belorussian Communist Organisation is founded as a separate party.
● 1922 - The Greek Constitution of 1822 is adopted by the First National Assembly of Epidaurus.
● 1923 - Britain's Railways are grouped into the Big Four, LNER, GWR, SR, LMSR.
● 1925 - The American astronomer Edwin Hubble announces the discovery of galaxies outside the Milky Way.
● 1927 - Turkey adopts the Gregorian calendar: December 18, 1926 (Julian), is immediately followed by January 1, 1927 (Gregorian).
● 1933 - U.S. troops leave Nicaragua.
● 1934 - Alcatraz Island becomes a United States federal prison.
● 1934 - Nazi Germany passes the "Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring".
● 1934 - Prohibition (of alcohol) ends in U.S.
● 1937 - Safety glass in vehicle windscreens becomes mandatory in Great Britain.
● 1939 - Sydney, Australia swelters in 45˚C (113˚F) heat, a record for the city.
● 1939 - William Hewlett and David Packard found Hewlett-Packard.
● 1941 - In a speech decrying the war in Europe, Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt announces America's principles of "Four Freedoms" (freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and freedom from want and fear) desired for the world -- freedoms which pointedly were not encouraged, then or later, for countries whose dictators were installed and/or supported by the U.S. for Cold War purposes.
● 1942 - "Uncle Joe" Stalin proclaimed "Time" magazine's "Man of the Year."
● 1942 - Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) founded by James Farmer.
● 1942 - The Declaration by the United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations.
● 1942 - The U.S. Office of Production Management prohibits sales of new cars and trucks to civilians.
● 1945 - In retaliation for the Malmedy massacre, U.S. troops massacre 30 SS prisoners at Chenogne.
● 1946 - The first civil flight from Heathrow Airport occurs.
● 1947 - Canada - Saskatchewan government (CCF) introduces first hospital care program in North America.
● 1947 - The American and British occupation zones in Germany, after the World War II, merge to form the Bizone, that later became the Federal Republic of Germany.
● 1948 - After partition, India declines to pay the agreed share of Rs.550 million in cash balances to Pakistan.
● 1948 - British railways are nationalised to form British Rail.
● 1948 - The Constitution of Italy comes into force.
● 1949 - The British Nationality Act 1948 comes into force.
● 1949 - United Nations cease-fire takes effect in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly.
● 1950 - The state of Ajaigarh is ceded to the Government of India.
● 1955 - U.S. begins training South Vietnamese army. How well they do.
● 1956 - A new year event causes panic and stampedes at Yahiko Shrine, Yahiko, central Niigata, Japan, killing at least 124 people.
● 1956 - The Republic of the Sudan achieves independence from the Egyptian Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
● 1957 - George Town, Penang becomes a city by a royal charter granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
● 1958 - The European Community is established.
● 1959 - Cuban dictator Juan Batista flees the island; Fidel Castro's forces enter Havana the next day.
● 1959 - Cultivars of plants named after this date must be named in a modern language, not in Latin.
● 1960 - The Republic of Cameroon achieves independence from France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
● 1962 - United States Navy SEALs established.
● 1962 - Western Samoa achieves independence from New Zealand; its name is changed to the Independent State of Western Samoa.
● 1964 - The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of Zambia and Malawi, and the British-controlled Rhodesia.
● 1965 - The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan is founded in Kabul.
● 1966 - A twelve day New York City transit strike begins.
● 1966 - After a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa assumes power as president of the Central African Republic.
● 1968 - Yippies founded and announce plans to conduct demonstrations the following summer at Democratic convention in Chicago.
● 1970 - A Twin-engine Cessna takes off from an airport outside Madison, Wisconsin, flies 35 miles north, and drops three bombs on the Badger Army Ammunition Plant. An anonymous phone call to the University of Wisconsin student newspaper, "The Daily Cardinal," identifies the bombers as members of (quote) "The Vanguard of the Revolution."
● 1970 - Menominee Indians seize unused Gresham, Wisconsin Roman Catholic novitiate (on February 4, the church promises to deed it to them for a tribal hospital.)
● 1970 - Unix time begins.
● 1971 - Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television.
● 1972 - Austrian diplomat Kurt Waldheim becomes Secretary General of the United Nations.
● 1973 - The Kingdom of Denmark, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are admitted into the European Community.
● 1978 - Air India Flight 855 Boeing 747 crashes into the sea, due to instrument failure and pilot disorientation, off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
● 1978 - The Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands becomes effective.
● 1979 - Formal diplomatic relations are established between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America.
● 1980 - Victoria is crowned princess of Sweden.
● 1981 - The Republic of Greece is admitted into the European Community.
● 1981 - The Republic of Palau achieves self-government though it is not independent from the United States.
● 1981 - Vancouver (Canada) Municipal and Regional Employees Union goes on the picket line for 13 weeks. Innovative strike tactics, including the complete shutdown of major tourist attractions like the Planetarium, and a propensity to sing labor songs at every rally and picket line, eventually won tremendous settlement.
● 1982 - Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar becomes the first Latin American to hold the title of Secretary General of the United Nations.
● 1983 - The ARPANET officially changes to using the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet.
● 1983 - Women break into cruise missile base and dance on silos. Greenham Common, Britain.
● 1984 - AT&T is broken up into twenty-two independent units. {The 22 units have since spent a great deal of effort trying to consolidate to the smallest number of entities possible.}
● 1984 - The Sultanate of Brunei becomes independent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
● 1985 - The first British mobile phone call is made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
● 1985 - The Internet's Domain Name System is created.
● 1986 - Arrest of ten anti-nuclear activists for trespassing at Nevada Test Site culminates a 54-day encampment at the main Test Site gate. The camp establishes momentum for what became a movement of over 10,000 arrests in numerous Test Site protests over the following years.
● 1986 - Aruba becomes independent of Curaçao, though it remains in free association with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
● 1986 - The Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic are admitted into the European Community.
● 1986 - U.S.S.R. leader Mikhael Gorbachev asks for world ban on atomic weapons.
● 1988 - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America comes into existence, creating the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States.
● 1989 - The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer comes into force.
● 1990 - David Dinkins is sworn in as New York City's first black mayor.
● 1992 - Women dance on missile silos, U.S. Air Force Base, Greenham Common, England.
● 1993 - A single market within the European Community is introduced.
● 1993 - Dissolution of Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia is divided into the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic.
● 1994 - Indigenous army in Chiapas, Mexico rebels in reaction to implementation of NAFTA agreement. Briefly takes over four towns before receding into jungle and beginning a national dialogue on the future of genuine democracy in Mexico.
● 1994 - The European Economic Area comes into effect.
● 1994 - The International Tropical Timber Agreement comes into effect.
● 1994 - The North American Free Trade Agreement comes into effect.
● 1995 - Firecrackers are banned in Vietnam on Tết because of safety reasons.
● 1995 - Jean-Claude Juncker assumes as Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
● 1995 - The Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe becomes the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
● 1995 - The Draupner wave in the North Sea in Norway is detected, confirming the existence of freak waves.
● 1995 - The Kingdom of Sweden and the republics of Austria and Finland are admitted into the European Union.
● 1995 - The World Trade Organization comes into effect.
● 1996 - Curaçao gains limited self-government, though it remains within free association with the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
● 1997 - Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan assumes as Secretary General of the United Nations.
● 1997 - The Republic of Zaïre officially joins the World Trade Organization, as Zaïre.
● 1998 - Russia begins to circulate new rubles to stem inflation and promote confidence.
● 1999 - The Euro currency is introduced.
● 1999 - The Polish administrative region of Opole Voivodeship is created, out of the former Opole Voivodeship and parts of Częstochowa Voivodeship.
● 2000 - As the world celebrates, no major crisis arises from the dreaded Y2K computer 'millennium bug'.
● 2000 - Hama Amadou assumes as Prime Minister of Niger.
● 2001 - The true beginning of the new (21st) century and (3rd) millennium. The previous year was the 100th of the 20th century and 1000th of the 2nd millennim.
● 2001 - Tommy Remengesau assumes as president of Palau.
● 2002 - Euro banknotes and coins become legal tender in twelve of the European Union's member states.
● 2002 - Taiwan officially joins the World Trade Organization, as Chinese Taipei.
● 2002 - The Open Skies mutual surveillance treaty, initially signed in 1992, officially enters into force.
● 2003 - Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assumes office as the President of Brazil.
● 2004 - In a vote of confidence, General Pervez Musharraf won 658 out of 1,170 votes in the Electoral College of Pakistan, and according to Article 41(8) of the Constitution of Pakistan, was "deemed to be elected" to the office of President until October 2007. {His declaration of "emergency" in 2007 extends this date.}
● 2007 - Adam Air Flight 574 disappears over Indonesia with 102 people on board.
● 2007 - Bulgaria and Romania officially join the European Union. Also, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Irish become official languages of the European Union, joining 20 other official languages.
● 2008 - A New Hampshire law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples goes into effect.
● 2008 - Malta & Cyprus officially adopt the Euro currency
BIRTHS
● 766 - Ali al-Rida, Shia Imam (d. 818)
● 1431 - Pope Alexander VI (d. 1503)
● 1449 - Lorenzo de' Medici, Italian statesman (d. 1492)
● 1467 - Sigismund I the Old, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (d. 1548)
● 1484 - Huldrych Zwingli, Swiss Protestant leader (d. 1531)
● 1511 - Henry, Duke of Cornwall (d. 1511)
● 1516 - Margaret Leijonhufvud, Queen of Gustav I of Sweden (d. 1551)
● 1557 - István Bocskay, Prince of Transylvania (d. 1606)
● 1600 - Friedrich Spanheim, Dutch theologian (d. 1649)
● 1614 - John Wilkins, English Bishop of Chester (d. 1672)
● 1618 - baptised Bartolomé Estéban Murillo, Spanish painter (d. 1682)
● 1638 - Emperor Go-Sai of Japan (d. 1685)
● 1648 - Elkanah Settle, English writer (d. 1724)
● 1655 - Christian Thomasius, German jurist (d. 1728)
● 1684 - Arnold Drakenborch, Dutch classical scholar (d. 1748)
● 1704 - Soame Jenyns, English writer (d. 1787)
● 1711 - Franz Freiherr von der Trenck, Austrian soldier (d. 1749)
● 1714 - Kristijonas Donelaitis, Lithuanian poet (d. 1780)
● 1735 - Paul Revere, American patriot (d. 1818)
● 1745 - Anthony Wayne, American general and statesman (d. 1796)
● 1750 - Frederick Muhlenberg, American statesman (d. 1801)
● 1752 - Betsy Ross, American seamstress (d. 1836)
● 1767 - Maria Edgeworth, Anglo-Irish novelist (d. 1849)
● 1774 - André Marie Constant Duméril, French zoologist (d. 1860)
● 1779 - William Clowes, English printer (d. 1847)
● 1803 - Guglielmo Libri Carucci dalla Sommaja, Italian mathematician (d. 1869)
● 1814 - Hong Xiuquan, Chinese rebel (d. 1864)
● 1823 - Sándor Petőfi, Hungarian poet and revolutionary (d. 1849)
● 1833 - Robert Lawson, New Zealand architect (d. 1902)
● 1848 - John Goff, Irish lawyer (d. 1924)
● 1854 - Sir James George Frazer, Scottish anthropologist (d. 1941)
● 1863 - Pierre de Coubertin, French Olympic Games initiator (d. 1937)
● 1864 - George Washington Carver, American educator (d. 1943)
● 1864 - Alfred Stieglitz, American photographer (d. 1946)
● 1864 - Qi Baishi, Chinese painter (d. 1957)
● 1868 - Snitz Edwards, American actor (d. 1937)
● 1873 - Mariano Azuela, Mexican novelist (d. 1952)
● 1874 - Gustave Whitehead, German-born inventor (d. 1927)
● 1874 - Frank Knox, American Secretary of the Navy (d. 1944)
● 1876 - Harriet Brooks, Canadian physicist (d. 1933)
● 1878 - Agner Krarup Erlang, Danish scientist and engineer (d. 1929)
● 1879 - E. M. Forster, English novelist (d. 1970)
● 1881 - Vajiravudh, King of Thailand (d. 1925)
● 1887 - Wilhelm Canaris, German admiral (d. 1945)
● 1888 - John Garand, American inventor (d. 1974)
● 1890 - Anton Melik, Slovenian geographer (d. 1966)
● 1892 - Artur Rodziński, Croatian conductor (d. 1958)
● 1894 - Satyendra Nath Bose, Bengali mathematician (d. 1974)
● 1894 - Shitsu Nakano, Japan's oldest person (d. 2007)
● 1895 - J. Edgar Hoover, American FBI director (d. 1972)
● 1900 - Chiune Sugihara, Japanese diplomat (d. 1986)
● 1900 - Xavier Cugat, Spanish musician (d. 1990)
● 1902 - Buster Nupen, South African cricketer (d. 1977)
● 1904 - Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry, Pakistani politician (d. 1982)
● 1904 - Ethan Allen, American baseball player (d. 1993)
● 1905 - Stanisław Mazur, Polish mathematician (d. 1981)
● 1905 - Kamatari Fujiwara, Japanese actor (d. 1985)
● 1906 - Giovanni D'Anzi, Italian songwriter (d. 1974)
● 1909 - Stepan Bandera, Ukrainian nationalist leader (d. 1959)
● 1909 - Dana Andrews, American actor (d. 1992)
● 1909 - Barry M. Goldwater, American politician (d. 1998)
● 1911 - Hank Greenberg, American baseball player (d. 1986)
● 1912 - Kim Philby, British spy (d. 1988)
● 1912 - Boris Vladimirovich Gnedenko, Russian mathematician (d. 1995)
● 1914 - Noor Inayat Khan, Indian princess and SOE agent; awarded the George Cross (d. 1944)
● 1917 - Jule Gregory Charney, American meteorologist (d. 1981)
● 1917 - Albert Mol, Dutch actor (d. 2004)
● 1918 - Patrick Anthony Porteous, Scottish Victoria Cross recipient (d. 2000)
● 1919 - J. D. Salinger, American novelist
● 1920 - Virgilio Savona, Italian singer (Quartetto Cetra)
● 1921 - Ismail al-Faruqi, Palestinian-born philosopher (d. 1986)
● 1922 - Rocky Graziano, American boxer (d. 1990)
● 1922 - Ernest Hollings, American politician
● 1923 - Daniel Gorenstein, American mathematician (d. 1992)
● 1923 - Milt Jackson, American jazz vibraphonist (d. 1999)
● 1925 - Matthew "Stymie" Beard, American actor (d. 1981)
● 1925 - Denyse Tontz, Belly Dancer/Actor
● 1925 - Valentina Cortese, Italian actress
● 1925 - Raymond Pellegrin, French actor
● 1926 - Richard Verreau, French Canadian tenor (d. 2005)
● 1927 - Calum MacKay, Canadian hockey player (d. 2001)
● 1927 - Maurice Béjart, French choreographer (d. 2007)
● 1927 - Pat Heywood, Scottish born actress
● 1927 - Vernon L. Smith, American economist, winner
● 1927 - Doak Walker, American football star (d. 1998)
● 1928 - Ernest Tidyman, American writer (d. 1984)
● 1930 - Hossain Mohammad Ershad, Bangladeshi politician
● 1932 - Jackie Parker, American football player (d. 2006)
● 1933 - Joe Orton, English writer (d. 1967)
● 1933 - Frederick Lowy, Canadian educator
● 1935 - B. Kliban, American cartoonist (d. 1990)
● 1937 - Adam Wiśniewski-Snerg, Polish author (d. 1995)
● 1938 - Robert Jankel, British coachbuilder (d. 2005)
● 1938 - Clay Cole, Television Host and Producer
● 1939 - Michèle Mercier, French actress
● 1940 - Frank Langella, American actor
● 1942 - Gennadi Sarafanov, Soviet cosmonaut (d. 2005)
● 1942 - Country Joe McDonald, American musician (Country Joe and the Fish)
● 1942 - Martin Frost, American politician
● 1942 - Alassane Ouattara, Former Prime Minister of Ivory Coast
● 1943 - Jimmy Hart, wrestling manager
● 1943 - Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, Indian scientist
● 1943 - Don Novello, American actor
● 1944 - Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Pakistani politician
● 1945 - Jacky Ickx, Belgian race car driver
● 1946 - Carl B. Hamilton, Swedish economist and politician
● 1946 - Rick Hurst, American actor
● 1946 - Rivelino, Brazilian football player
● 1947 - Jon Corzine, American politician
● 1947 - Paula Tsui, Hong Kong singer
● 1948 - Pavel Grachev, Russian general
● 1950 - Morgan Fisher, English musician (Mott the Hoople)
● 1951 - Rodger Bumpass, American actor (Squidward Tentacles)
● 1951 - Ashfaq Hussain, Urdu poet
● 1951 - Nana Patekar, Indian film and stage actor
● 1951 - Hans-Joachim Stuck, German-born race car driver
● 1953 - Greg Carmichael, British guitarist (Acoustic Alchemy)
● 1954 - Bob Menendez, American politician
● 1956 - Mark R. Hughes, American entrepreneur (d. 2000)
● 1956 - Mike Mitchell, American basketball player
● 1956 - Kôji Yakusho, Japanese actor
● 1957 - Ewa Kasprzyk, Polish actress
● 1957 - Evangelos Venizelos, Greek lawyer, professor and politician
● 1958 - Grandmaster Flash, Barbados-born musician
● 1959 - Azali Assoumani, Comorian president
● 1959 - Jennifer Edwards, American actress
● 1959 - Panagiotis Giannakis, Greek basketball player and coach
● 1961 - Fiona Phillips, British television presenter
● 1961 - Mark Wingett, British actor
● 1962 - Sophie Thompson, British actress
● 1962 - Ari Up, German musician (The Slits)
● 1964 - Dedee Pfeiffer, American actress
● 1966 - Anna Burke, Australian politician
● 1967 - Derrick Thomas, American football player (d. 2000)
● 1967 - Juanma Bajo Ulloa, Spanish film director
● 1967 - John Digweed, English DJ
● 1967 - Tim Dog, American rapper
● 1968 - Joey Stefano, American adult actor (d. 1994)
● 1968 - Miki Higashino, Japanese composer
● 1968 - Davor Šuker, Croatian footballer
● 1969 - Sophie Okonedo, Academy Award nominated British actress
● 1969 - Christi Paul, American news anchor
● 1969 - Verne Troyer, American actor
● 1970 - Gabriel Jarret, American actor
● 1970 - Shelley O'Donnell, Australian netballer
● 1970 - Kimberly Page, American actress
● 1971 - Bobby Holik, Czech hockey player
● 1972 - Neve McIntosh, Scottish actress
● 1972 - Lilian Thuram, French footballer
● 1974 - Catalina Guirado, English model and TV personality
● 1975 - Sonali Bendre, Indian model and actress
● 1975 - Joe Cannon, American soccer player
● 1975 - Eiichiro Oda, Japanese Manga artist
● 1976 - Caleb Wyatt, American motocross rider
● 1977 - Keeley Hawes, British actress
● 1977 - Hasan Salihamidžić, Bosnian footballer
● 1978 - Vidya Balan, Indian actress
● 1978 - Nina Bott, German actress
● 1978 - Phillip Mulryne, Northern Irish footballer
● 1978 - Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda, Indian spiritualist
● 1978 - Tarik O'Regan, British composer
● 1979 - Brody Dalle, Australian singer (The Distillers)
● 1979 - Koichi Domoto, Japanese artist
● 1980 - Elin Nordegren, Swedish model
● 1981 - Jonas Armstrong, Irish actor
● 1981 - Zsolt Baumgartner, Hungarian race car driver
● 1981 - Abdülkadir Koçak, Turkish boxer
● 1981 - Eden Riegel, American actress
● 1982 - David Nalbandian, Argentinian tennis player
● 1983 - Calum Davenport, English footballer
● 1983 - Emi Kobayashi, Japanese model
● 1984 - José Paolo Guerrero, Peruvian footballer
● 1984 - Alok Kapali, Bangladeshi cricketer
● 1984 - Shareefa, American singer
● 1984 - Michael Witt, Australian rugby league footballer
● 1985 - Steven Davis, Northern Irish footballer
● 1986 - Glen Davis, American basketball player
● 1987 - Gilbert Brule, Professional hockey player
● 1987 - Meryl Davis, American ice dancer
● 1987 - Devin Setoguchi, Professional hockey player
● 1998 - Marlene Lawston, American child actress
DEATHS
● 379 - Saint Basil of Caesarea (b. 330)
● 404 - Saint Telemachus
● 874 - Hasan al-Askari, eleventh Shia Imam (b. 846)
● 898 - Odo, Count of Paris (b. 860)
● 962 - Baldwin III, Count of Flanders (c. 940)
● 1204 - King Haakon III of Norway (c. 1170)
● 1387 - King Charles II of Navarre (b. 1332)
● 1515 - King Louis XII of France (b. 1462)
● 1554 - Pedro de Valdivia, Spanish conquistador (b. 1500)
● 1559 - Christian III of Denmark and Norway (b. 1503)
● 1560 - Joachim du Bellay, French poet (b. 1522)
● 1617 - Hendrik Goltzius, Dutch painter (b. 1558)
● 1697 - Filippo Baldinucci, Florentine biographer/ historian (b. 1624)
● 1716 - William Wycherley, English dramatist (b. 1640)
● 1730 - Samuel Sewall, English-born judge (b. 1652)
● 1742 - Peregrine Bertie, 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, English statesman (b. 1686)
● 1748 - Johann Bernoulli, Swiss mathematician (b. 1667)
● 1759 - Jacques-Joachim Trotti, marquis de La Chétardie, French adventurer (b. 1705)
● 1766 - James Francis Edward Stuart, "The Old Pretender" (b. 1688)
● 1782 - Johann Christian Bach, German composer (b. 1735)
● 1789 - Fletcher Norton, 1st Baron Grantley, English politician (b. 1716)
● 1793 - Francesco Guardi, Venetian painter (b. 1712)
● 1796 - Alexandre-Théophile Vandermonde, French mathematician (b. 1735)
● 1800 - Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton, French naturalist (b. 1716)
● 1817 - Martin Heinrich Klaproth, German chemist (b. 1743)
● 1862 - Mikhail Vasilievich Ostrogradsky, Russian physicist (b. 1801)
● 1869 - Martin W. Bates, American politician (b. 1786)
● 1892 - Roswell B. Mason, Mayor of Chicago (b. 1805)
● 1894 - Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, German physicist (b. 1857)
● 1919 - Mikhail Drozdovsky, Russian general (b. 1881)
● 1921 - Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, Chancellor of Germany (b. 1856)
● 1931 - Martinus Beijerinck, Dutch microbiologist and botanist (b. 1851)
● 1940 - Panuganti Lakshminarasimha Rao, Indian writer and essayist (b. 1865)
● 1944 - Charles Turner, Australian cricketer (b. 1862)
● 1953 - Hank Williams, American singer (b. 1923)
● 1958 - Edward Weston, American photographer (b. 1886)
● 1960 - Margaret Sullavan, American actress (b. 1909)
● 1964 - Bechara El Khoury, President of Lebanon (b. 1890)
● 1966 - Vincent Auriol, French politician (b. 1884)
● 1969 - Barton MacLane, American actor (b. 1902)
● 1969 - Bruno Söderström, Swedish athlete (b. 1888)
● 1971 - Saint Amphilochius of Pochayiv, Ukrainian Orthodox Christian Saint (b. 1894)
● 1972 - Maurice Chevalier, French actor and singer (b. 1888)
● 1982 - Victor Buono, American actor (b. 1938)
● 1984 - Alexis Korner, British blues musician (b. 1928)
● 1985 - Kamatari Fujiwara, Japanese actor (b. 1905)
● 1986 - Alfredo Binda, Italian cyclist (b. 1902)
● 1986 - Bruce Norris, American hockey executive (Detroit Red Wings) (b. 1924)
● 1991 - Buck Ram, American songwriter and businessman (The Platters) (b. 1907)
● 1992 - Grace Hopper, American computer pioneer (b. 1906)
● 1994 - Lord Arthur Espie Porritt, Governor-General of New Zealand (b. 1900)
● 1994 - Cesar Romero, American actor (b. 1907)
● 1995 - Eugene Wigner, Hungarian physicist, Nobel laureate (b. 1902)
● 1995 - Fred West, British serial killer (suicide) (b. 1941)
● 1996 - Arleigh Burke, American admiral (b. 1901)
● 1996 - Arthur Rudolph, German engineer (b. 1906)
● 1997 - Hagood Hardy, Canadian composer and musician (b. 1937)
● 1997 - Townes Van Zandt, American musician (b. 1944)
● 1998 - Helen Wills Moody, American tennis player (b. 1905)
● 2000 - Colin Vaughan, Australian-born political journalist (b. 1931)
● 2001 - Ray Walston, American actor (b. 1914)
● 2002 - Julia Phillips, American film producer (b. 1944)
● 2003 - Joe Foss, American politician, fighter pilot and AFL Commissioner (b. 1915)
● 2003 - F. William Free, American advertising executive (b. 1928)
● 2005 - Shirley Chisholm, American politician (b. 1924)
● 2005 - Hugh Lawson, 6th Baron Burnham, British newspaperman (b. 1931)
● 2005 - Eugene J. Martin, American painter, artist (b. 1938)
● 2005 - Bob Matsui, American politician (b. 1941)
● 2006 - Harry Magdoff, American magazine editor (b. 1913)
● 2006 - Hugh McLaughlin, Irish publisher and inventor (b. 1918)
● 2006 - Bryan Harvey, American musician (House of Freaks) (b. 1956)
● 2007 - A. I. Bezzerides, American novelist and screenwriter (b. 1908)
● 2007 - Ernie Koy, American baseball player (b. 1909)
● 2007 - Tillie Olsen, American writer (b. 1912)
● 2007 - Leon Davidson, American scientist known for studying UFOs (b. 1922)
● 2007 - Julius Hegyi, American conductor (b. 1923)
● 2007 - Del Reeves, American country singer (b. 1932)
● 2007 - Roland Levinsky, South African medical scientist (b. 1943)
● 2007 - Leonard Fraser, Australian serial killer (b. 1951)
● 2007 - Tad Jones, American jazz music historian (b. 1952)
● 2007 - Darrent Williams, American football player (b. 1982)
HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES
● By faith:
● Roman Catholic:
● Feast of the Circumcision (Old calendar).
● Holy Day of Obligation in many countries. Final Day of Octave of Christmas, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (New calendar).
● St. Almachius
● St. Basil
● St. Clarus
● St. Concordius
● St. Connat
● St. Cuan
● Sts. Elvan & Mydwyn
● St. Eugendus
● St. Euphrosyne
● St. Fanchea
● St. Fulgentius of Ruspe
● St. Joseph Mary Tommasi
● St. Justin of Chieti
● St. Maelrhys
● St. Magnus
● St. Odilo of Cluny
● St. Telemachus
● St. William of Dijon
● Bl. Berka Zdislava
● Russian Orthodox Christian Menaion Calendar for December 19 (Civil Date: January 1)
● Nativity Fast.
● Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in Cilicia, and Righteous Aglae (Aglaida) of Rome.
● Martyrs Elias, Probus and Ares, in Cilicia.
● Martyrs Polyeuctus at Caesarea in Cappadocia, and Timothy the deacon in Mauretania.
● St. Boniface the Merciful, Bishop of Ferentino.
● St. Gregory, Archbishop of Omirits.
● St. Elias of Murom, Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves.
● Martyrs Hermylus and Phocas.
● Hieromartyr Capito, Bishop of Cherson.
● Greek Calendar:
● Martyrs Eutyches and Thessalonica and with them 200 men and 70 women.
● Martyr Tryphon.
● Repose of Priest martyr Hermogenes, founder of Kirensk
● Repose of Albazin Monasteries in Siberia (1690).
● Christian celebrations:
● The seventh day of Christmas (and eighth night of same) in Western Christianity.
● Anglican and Episcopalian churches - Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
● Orthodox Christian Churches - Feast Day of the Circumcision of the Lord in the Flesh; also the feast day of St. Basil, Bishop of Caesaria.
● By observance:
● Many countries around the world using Gregorian calendar - New Year's Day; often celebrated at 00:00 (midnight) with fireworks.
● Last day of Kwanzaa
● January 1st is also the given "birthday" to many refugees who come to safe countries but are unable to give a documented date of birth.
● By Country:
● Cuba Liberation Day.
● Czech Republic: Establishment of the Czech Republic.
● Haiti Independence Day.
● Scotland: Ne'erday.
● Slovakia: Establishment of the Slovak Republic.
● Sudan Independence Day.
● Taiwan Founding of Republic of China Day.
● By City:
● New Year's Day Parade in London, United Kingdom.
● Vienna New Year's Concert
● Pasadena, California - The Tournament of Roses Parade and, traditionally, the Rose Bowl football championship.
THIS IS AN ABBREVIATED POST FOR THIS DATE USING ONLY THE FOLLOWING SEVEN SOURCES. A COMPLETE POST IS PLANNED AS SOON AS TIME ALLOWS.
Click on this LINK to see original Wikipedia list with many having links with details.
Geov Parrish's this Day in Radical History, things that happened on this day that you never had to memorize in school.
Roman Catholic Saint of the Day
Russian Orthodox Christian Menaion Calendar
Liberal Quotes of the Day taken from The Best Liberal Quotes Ever: Why the Left Is Right Compiled by William P. Martin ©2004
Quotes from the Right of the Day taken from Take Them at Their Words: Startling, Amusing and Baffling Quotations from the GOP and Their Friends, 1994-2004 Compiled by Bruce J. Miller with Diana Maio ©2004
Dumbest Thing Said for the Day taken from 1001 Dumbest Things Ever Said Edited by Steven D. Price ©2004
Permanent Backlink to Post
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