Tuesday, 31st December 1985 in London
Welcome to your daily snapshot of London! It's New Year's Eve and World Peace Meditation Day. Explore 62 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in London. From remarkable moments in local and world history to the people who left their mark — find out what makes today special. Today's weather in London brings snowy with temperatures between 1°C and 3°C. Tonight's moon is in its waxing crescent phase, and the zodiac sign of the day is Capricorn. If you're curious about the history of a day — this page brings together everything worth knowing about this Tuesday, 31st December in London, GB.
On 31 December 1985, London experienced snowy weather as the year drew to a close, marking the final day of a decade that had witnessed significant global transformations. The city, which serves as the capital of the United Kingdom and one of Europe's principal financial and cultural centres, was preparing for New Year celebrations amid winter conditions. That evening, those born under the Capricorn zodiac sign could observe a waxing crescent moon illuminating the night sky above the capital.
The date carries historical significance within a broader timeline of transformative moments. Six years later, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would become acting president following Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation on 31 December 1999, marking a pivotal shift in Russian political leadership. Earlier that same year, Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal Zone from the United States, fulfilling obligations established by the Torrijos-Carter Treaties and returning sovereignty over one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
Looking back further, 31 December has marked other notable occasions, including the opening of Taipei 101 as the world's tallest building in 2004. These convergences of historical events on a single calendar date demonstrate how significant transitions in governance, infrastructure and international relations often occur at moments of temporal significance. DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions, historical events, and notable births and deaths for any date and location, enabling users to explore the historical context of any day in the calendar.
Find out what's happening today in London.
What the Weather Had in Store for London on 31st December 1985
Diamonds require pressure and centuries to become themselves.
Fortune of the Day
31st December in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on 31st December blend classic Capricorn discipline with Mercurial intellect. They appear thoughtful, strategic and remarkably sharp-minded. A quiet presence conceals an alert mind and deep inner wisdom.
Strengths & Weaknesses Strengths: analytical, dependable, articulate and conscientious. They solve complex problems elegantly. Weaknesses: prone to overthinking, can seem emotionally distant, and sometimes dismiss intuition in favour of logic.
Love These natives seek partners with substance and intellectual depth. Emotional stability and honest communication matter most. They build slowly but unshakably deep, loyal bonds.
Caree & Finance Ideal careers: science, consulting, writing, management. Their blend of structure and analytical skill makes them invaluable. Financial security emerges through strategic, long-term planning.
Health These individuals benefit from regular exercise to release stress. Mental peace through meditation or journaling helps. Learning to release perfectionism and relax more matters greatly.
That night, the moon was in its waxing crescent phase.
Chinese year of the Ox (Wood).
Fun Facts About 31st December
Name Days in Your Language: Malone, Melania, Melanie, Melany, Silas, Silvester, Sylvester
Someone born on this day in 1985 would be 40 years old today — just 14,710 days into life, which is roughly 353,048 hours, 21,182,899 minutes, or 1,270,973,948 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 365. day of the year.
There are 0 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 1 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 31st December
- Michal Řepík, Czech ice hockey player (1988)
- Javaris Crittenton, American basketball player (1987)
- Seydou Doumbia, Ivorian footballer (1987)
- Danny Holla, Dutch footballer (1987)
- Nemanja Nikolić, Hungarian footballer (1987)
- Nate Freiman, American baseball player (1986)
- Kade Snowden, Australian rugby league player (1986)
- Jonathan Horton, American gymnast (1985)
- Jan Smit, Dutch singer and television host (1985)
- Corey Crawford, Canadian ice hockey player (1984)
Lives Remembered on 31st December
- Nicolas Calas, Greek-American poet and critic (born 1907) (1988)
- Jerry Turner, American journalist (born 1929) (1987)
- Ricky Nelson, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (born 1940) (1985)
- Sevim Burak, Turkish author and playwright (born 1931) (1983)
- Marshall McLuhan, Canadian philosopher and theorist (born 1911) (1980)
- Raoul Walsh, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1887) (1980)
- Basil Wolverton, American illustrator (born 1909) (1978)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 31st December
- Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church)
- Christian feast day: December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: First Night (United States)
- 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)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Novy God Eve (Russia)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: Ōmisoka (Japan)
- New Year's Eve (International observance), and its related observances: The first day of Hogmanay or "Auld Year's Night" (Scotland)
- The seventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)
- The sixth and penultimate day of Kwanzaa (United States)
What Happened on 31st December?
- Three disgruntled employees set fire to the Dupont Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, killing more than 90 people and injuring 140 others, making it the second-deadliest hotel fire in American history. (1986)
- The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government. (1983)
- Benjamin Ward is appointed New York City Police Department's first ever African American police commissioner. (1983)
- In Nigeria, a coup d'état led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari ends the Second Nigerian Republic. (1983)
- 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. (1981)