WHAT HAPPENED ON 31. DECEMBER
Want to find out what all happened on 31. December

Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey. (31. December 1879)

Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar signs the Persian Constitution of 1906. (31. December 1906)

The first New Year's Eve celebration is held in Times Square (then known as Longacre Square) in New York, New York. (31. December 1907)

Manhattan Bridge opens. (31. December 1909)

The chimes of Big Ben are broadcast on radio for the first time by the BBC. (31. December 1923)

World War II: Hungary declares war on Nazi Germany. (31. December 1944)

World War II: Operation Nordwind, the last major German offensive on the Western Front begins. (31. December 1944)

President Harry S. Truman officially proclaims the end of hostilities in World War II. (31. December 1946)

The Marshall Plan expires after distributing more than US$13.3 billion in foreign aid to rebuild Europe. (31. December 1951)

General Motors becomes the first U.S. corporation to make over US$1 billion in a year. (31. December 1955)

The farthing coin ceases to be legal tender in the United Kingdom. (31. December 1960)

RTÉ, Ireland's state broadcaster, launches its first national television service. (31. December 1961)

The Central African Federation officially collapses, subsequently becoming Zambia, Malawi and Rhodesia. (31. December 1963)

Jean-Bédel Bokassa, leader of the Central African Republic army, and his military officers begins a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko. (31. December 1965)

The Youth International Party, popularly known as the "Yippies", is founded. (31. December 1967)

A coup d'état in Ghana removes President Hilla Limann's PNP government and replaces it with the Provisional National Defence Council led by Flight lieutenant Jerry Rawlings. (31. December 1981)

The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government. (31. December 1983)

In Nigeria a coup d'état led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari ends the Second Nigerian Republic. (31. December 1983)

A fire at the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, kills 97 and injures 140. (31. December 1986)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Mario Lemieux becomes the only National Hockey League player to score goals in five different ways: even strength, shorthanded, power play, penalty shot, and empty net, during a 8–6 win over the New Jersey Devils. (31. December 1988)