Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
December 31 Thursday, December 31, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 31 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
1775
War 251 years ago
American Revolutionary War: Battle of Quebec: British forces under General Guy Carleton repulse an attack by Continental Army General Richard Montgomery in a snowstorm.
British forces under General Guy Carleton repulse a Continental Army assault led by General Richard Montgomery during a snowstorm at Quebec, where Montgomery is killed in the failed attack.
History
What happened on December 31
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 406European history
Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gaul.
Vandals, Alans, and Suebians cross the Rhine, initiating an invasion of Gaul.
- 535European history
Byzantine general Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily, defeating the Gothic garrison of Palermo (Panormos), and ending his consulship for the year.
Belisarius completes the conquest of Sicily by defeating the Gothic garrison in Palermo, ending his consulship.
- 870UK history
Battle of Englefield: The Vikings clash with ealdorman Æthelwulf of Berkshire. The invaders are driven back to Reading (East Anglia); many Danes are killed.
Æthelwulf of Berkshire leads a Saxon force that defeats Viking invaders at the Battle of Englefield, driving them back to Reading with heavy casualties.
- 1105European history
Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV is forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Henry V, in Ingelheim.
Henry IV abdicates in favor of his son Henry V, ending his reign as Holy Roman Emperor.
- 1225World history
The Lý dynasty of Vietnam ends after 216 years by the enthronement of the boy emperor Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, starting the Trần dynasty.[citation needed]
The Trần dynasty begins as Trần Thái Tông, husband of the last Lý monarch Lý Chiêu Hoàng, ascends to the throne.
- 1229European history
James I the Conqueror, King of Aragon, enters Medina Mayurqa (now known as Palma de Mallorca, Spain), thus consummating the Christian reconquest of the island of Mallorca.
James I the Conqueror enters Medina Mayurqa, completing the Christian reconquest of Mallorca.
- 1501War
The First Battle of Cannanore commences, seeing the first use of the naval line of battle.[citation needed]
The First Battle of Cannanore begins off the Malabar Coast, marking the first recorded use of the naval line of battle tactic.
- 1600UK history
The British East India Company is chartered.
The British East India Company receives its royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I.
- 1687European history
The first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope.
A group of French Protestants, known as Huguenots, depart France for the Cape of Good Hope in search of religious freedom.
- 1775War
American Revolutionary War: Battle of Quebec: British forces under General Guy Carleton repulse an attack by Continental Army General Richard Montgomery in a snowstorm.
British forces under General Guy Carleton repulse a Continental Army assault led by General Richard Montgomery during a snowstorm at Quebec, where Montgomery is killed in the failed attack.
- 1796US history
The incorporation of Baltimore as a city.
Baltimore is incorporated as an independent city, separating from Baltimore County.
- 1853Science
A dinner party is held inside a life-size model of an iguanodon created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Sir Richard Owen in south London, England.
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins hosts a dinner party inside a life-size model of an iguanodon in south London.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 31
7 this date All birthdays
Ray Graves
American football player and coach
Samuel Ray Graves, the American football player who captained the University of Tennessee Volunteers and later coached the University of Florida Gators from 1960 to 1969, was born in 1918.
Born
1918
Died
2015
King Kelly
American baseball player and manager
1857 – 1894
George Marshall
American general and politician, 50th United States Secretary of State
1880 – 1959
Raphael Kaplinsky
South African international development academic
b. 1946 · 80
Roy Greenslade
English journalist and academic
b. 1946 · 80
Matt Cross
American wrestler
b. 1980 · 46
Jonathan Horton
American gymnast
b. 1985 · 41
Music
The number one songs on December 31
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 31, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport December 31, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 31, 2011
NASA succeeds in putting the first of two Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellites in orbit around the Moon.
NASA places the first of two GRAIL satellites into lunar orbit to study the Moon's gravity and interior.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)
International
International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis is an annual public holiday in Azerbaijan celebrating the worldwide solidarity and unity of Azerbaijanis
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States)
International
First Night is a North American artistic and cultural celebration on New Year's Eve, taking place from afternoon until midnight
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
Public holidays in the Philippines are of two types: regular holidays and special non-working days
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Novy God Eve (Russia)
International
The New Year celebration observed in Russia, in post-Soviet states, and globally by the diasporas of post-Soviet states is called Novy God in Russian
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Ōmisoka (Japan)
International
Ōmisoka (大晦日) or ōtsugomori (大晦) is a Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year
New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: The first day of Hogmanay or "Auld Year's Night" (Scotland)
International
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the old year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner