Summary of the Day ✨ 1 January (01/01)
Bulgaria officially joined the Eurozone as its 21st member while tragedy struck multiple locations worldwide, including deadly fires in Switzerland, a terrorist attack in New Orleans, and a devastating earthquake in Japan that killed hundreds. On this day of contrasting events, Disney’s iconic Steamboat Willie and original Mickey Mouse also entered the public domain as copyright protection expired.
Historical Events 📜
- 2026: Bulgaria officially adopts the Euro, becoming the 21st Eurozone country.
- 2026: A fire at a bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, kills 41 people and injures 116 others.
- 2025: Fourteen people are killed and 57 others injured during a vehicle-ramming and shooting attack in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- 2024: A 7.5 Mww earthquake strikes the western coast of Japan, killing more than 500 people and injuring over 1,000 others. A majority of direct deaths were due to collapsed homes.
- 2024: Disney’s copyright protection on Steamboat Willie and the original Mickey Mouse expires as they enter the public domain.
- 2024: Artsakh ceases to exist.
- 2023: Croatia officially adopts the Euro, becoming the 20th Eurozone country, and becomes the 27th member of the Schengen Area.
- 2017: An attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, during New Year’s celebrations, kills 39 people and injures 79 others.
- 2015: The Eurasian Economic Union comes into effect, creating a political and economic union between Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
- 2013: At least 60 people are killed and 200 injured in a stampede after celebrations at Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
- 2011: A bomb explodes as Coptic Christians in Alexandria, Egypt, leave a new year service, killing 23 people.
- 2011: Estonia officially adopts the Euro currency and becomes the 17th Eurozone country.
- 2010: A suicide car bomber detonates at a volleyball tournament in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan, killing 105 and injuring 100 more.
- 2009: Sixty-six people die in a nightclub fire in Bangkok, Thailand.
- 2007: Bulgaria and Romania join the EU.
Famous Births 👶
- 2007: Ian Subiabre, Argentine footballer
- 2004: Lamine Camara, Senegalese footballer
- 2003: Daria Trubnikova, Russian rhythmic gymnast
- 2002: Simon Adingra, Ivorian footballer
- 2001: Angourie Rice, Australian actress
- 2001: Winter, South Korean singer
- 2000: Nicolas Kühn, German footballer
- 2000: Ice Spice, American rapper
- 1999: Tomás Chancalay, Argentine footballer
- 1999: Azmy Qowimuramadhoni, Indonesian-Azerbaijani badminton player
- 1998: Cristina Bucșa, Moldovan-Spanish tennis player
- 1998: Edwuin Cetré, Colombian footballer
- 1998: Enock Mwepu, Zambian footballer
- 1998: Frank Onyeka, Nigerian footballer
- 1997: Noah Kahan, American singer-songwriter
Notable Deaths 🕊️
- 2025: David Lodge, English author and critic (born 1935)
- 2025: Chad Morgan, Australian musician (born 1933)
- 2025: Wayne Osmond, American singer-songwriter and actor (born 1951)
- 2024: Lynja, American celebrity chef and YouTuber (born 1956)
- 2023: Fred White, American musician and songwriter (born 1955)
- 2022: Gary Burgess, British broadcaster and journalist (born 1975)
- 2022: Dan Reeves, American football player and coach (born 1944)
- 2021: Carlos do Carmo, Portuguese fado singer (born 1939)
- 2021: Mark Eden, English actor (born 1928)
- 2021: Elmira Minita Gordon, Belizean educator and psychologist (born 1930)
- 2021: Floyd Little, American football player (born 1942)
- 2020: Lexii Alijai, American rapper (born 1998)
- 2020: Alexander Frater, British travel writer and journalist (born 1937)
- 2020: Don Larsen, American baseball player (born 1929)
- 2020: Barry McDonald, Australian rugby union player (born 1940)
Holidays & Observances 🎉
- Christian feast day:
Basil the Great (Eastern Orthodox Church) - Christian feast day:
Feast of the Circumcision of Christ
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church) - Christian feast day:
Fulgentius of Ruspe - Christian feast day:
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; and its related observances:
World Day of Peace - Christian feast day:
January 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) - The last day of Kwanzaa (African Americans)
- The eighth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
- Global Family Day
- Jump-up Day (Montserrat)
- New Year’s Day (Gregorian calendar)
Japanese New Year - New Year’s Day (Gregorian calendar)
Novy God Day (Russia) - Polar Bear Swim Day
- Public Domain Day (multiple countries)
- Triumph of the Revolution (Cuba)