Thursday, 4th January 1979 in Berlin
Welcome to your daily snapshot of Berlin! It's World Braille Day. Explore 46 historical events, birthdays, deaths, and milestones that shaped this day in Berlin. 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 Berlin brings cloudy with temperatures between -15°C and -7°C. Tonight's moon is in its waning gibbous 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 Thursday, 4th January in Berlin, DE.
Thursday, 4 January 1979 was marked by cloudy skies over Berlin, a city divided during the Cold War that served as the capital of the German Democratic Republic. Berlin remained a significant political and cultural centre despite its partition, with the Wall dominating the urban landscape. The date fell during the waning gibbous moon phase, with those born under the zodiac sign of Capricorn experiencing their solar season. The atmospheric conditions reflected the winter months typical of Northern Europe at that time of year.
Throughout history, 4 January has witnessed several notable developments across Europe and beyond. In 1972, Rose Heilbron became the first female judge to sit at the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, marking a significant milestone in British legal history and women's representation in the judiciary. Nearly a century earlier, in 1698, the Palace of Whitehall, which had served as the principal residence of English monarchs since 1530, was largely destroyed by fire, fundamentally altering the landscape of royal power in London.
Beyond Europe, the date has recorded moments of scientific advancement and tragedy. On 4 January 2004, NASA's Spirit rover successfully landed on Mars as part of the Mars Exploration Rover mission, contributing substantially to planetary exploration programmes. A more recent tragedy occurred in 2019 when a fire in an escape room facility in Koszalin, Poland, claimed the lives of five teenagers, highlighting safety concerns in entertainment venues.
DayAtlas provides comprehensive information about weather conditions, historical events, and notable births and deaths for any given date and location, making it a useful resource for historical research and contextual understanding of specific days throughout history.
Find out what's happening today in Berlin.
What the Weather Had in Store for Berlin on 4th January 1979
Distance traveled matters less than direction chosen.
Fortune of the Day
4th January in the Stars – Star Sign Pisces
Personality Profile
Personality Those born on January 4th embody the quintessential Capricorn: grounded, purposeful, and quietly composed. Their practical nature combines with understated ambition that propels them forward steadily. The numerological influence of five adds unexpected flexibility to their otherwise structured personality.
Strengths & Weaknesses These individuals excel in reliability, persistence, and strategic thinking. Their weakness lies in rigidity and emotional distance, which can hinder intimacy. Perfectionism sometimes paralyzes their progress.
Love In relationships, January 4th natives are loyal and conscientious, though emotionally reserved. They need partners who appreciate their long-term devotion and show patience. Depth develops through consistency and mutual trust.
Caree & Finance Professionally, these people pursue security and recognized status. Saturn's rulership guides them toward administration, crafts, or management roles. Financially savvy and risk-averse, they build wealth methodically and sustainably.
Health January 4th individuals should monitor skeletal health, teeth, and joints, especially with age. Stress management is vital since they tend toward tension. Regular movement and clear routines stabilize their wellbeing.
That night, the moon was in its waning gibbous phase.
Chinese year of the Horse (Earth).
Fun Facts About 4th January
Name Days in Your Language: Angel, Angela, Angelica, Angelina, Angeline, Angelique, Angelo, Angie, Dangelo, Deangelo, Lewis, Lou, Louie, Louis, Luis
Someone born on this day in 1979 would be 47 years old today — just 17,262 days into life, which is roughly 414,309 hours, 24,858,572 minutes, or 1,491,514,326 seconds spent on Earth so far.
It's the 4. day of the year.
There are 361 days still to come.
We’re currently in Week 1 — the year marches on.
Famous Birthdays on 4th January
- Richard Logan, English footballer (1982)
- Danny Sullivan, Australian rugby league player (1982)
- Kang Hye-jung, South Korean actress (1982)
- D'Arcy Carden, American actress and comedian (1980)
- Miguel Monteiro, Portuguese footballer (1980)
- Justin Ontong, South African cricketer (1980)
- Shergo Biran, German footballer (1979)
- Tristan Gommendy, French racing driver (1979)
- Dominik Hrbatý, Slovak tennis player (1978)
- Ted Lilly, American baseball player (1976)
Lives Remembered on 4th January
- Michael Reagan, American political commentator (born 1945) (2026)
- Ana Gligić, Serbian virologist (born 1934) (2025)
- Glynis Johns, British actress and singer (born 1923) (2024)
- David Soul, American-British actor and singer (born 1943) (2024)
- Christian Oliver, German actor (born 1972) (2024)
- Rosi Mittermaier, German alpine skier and Olympic champion (born 1950) (2023)
- Tanya Roberts, American actress (born 1949) (2021)
- Tom Long, Australian actor (born 1968) (2020)
- Harold Brown, 14th United States Secretary of Defense (born 1927) (2019)
- Milt Schmidt, Canadian ice hockey player, coach and general manager (born 1918) (2017)
Celebrations & Special Days Worldwide on 4th January
- Christian feast day: Angela of Foligno
- Christian feast day: Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Christian feast day: Ferréol of Uzès
- Christian feast day: Mavilus
- Christian feast day: Pharaildis of Ghent
- Christian feast day: Rigobert
- Christian feast day: January 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- The eleventh of the Twelve Days of Christmas. (Western Christianity)
- Independence Day (Myanmar), celebrates the independence of Myanmar from the United Kingdom in 1948.
- Colonial Martyrs Repression Day (Angola)
- Day of the Martyrs (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Ogoni Day (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People)
- Tokyo Dome Show: The annual Wrestle Kingdom event run by New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- World Braille Day
What Happened on 4th January?
- A fire in an escape room in Koszalin, Poland, kills five teenagers through carbon monoxide poisoning. (2019)
- Hennenman–Kroonstad train crash: A passenger train operated by Shosholoza Meyl collides with a truck on a level crossing at Geneva Station between Hennenman and Kroonstad, Free State, South Africa. Twenty people are killed and 260 injured. (2018)
- A gunman kills eight people in a house-to-house rampage in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines. (2013)
- The Burj Khalifa, the current tallest building in the world, officially opens in Dubai. (2010)
- A Let L-410 Turbolet crashes in the Los Roques Archipelago in Venezuela, killing 14 people. (2008)
- The 110th United States Congress convenes, electing Nancy Pelosi as the first female Speaker of the House in U.S. history. (2007)
- Ehud Olmert becomes acting Prime Minister of Israel after the incumbent, Ariel Sharon, suffers a second, apparently more serious stroke. (2006)
- Spirit, a NASA Mars rover, lands successfully on Mars at 04:35 UTC. (2004)
- Mikheil Saakashvili is elected President of Georgia following the November 2003 Rose Revolution. (2004)
- A Norwegian passenger train departing from Trondheim, collides with a local train coming from Hamar in Åsta in Åmot Municipality; 19 people are killed and 68 injured in the accident. (2000)