Historical Events that Took Place on New Year's Eve

As of December 31, 46 B.C.E., December 31st has been the last day of every year. Because of this, it is also one of the most heavily celebrated modern holidays. Liquor consumption goes overboard, men work up the nerve to propose and the year's week of winter celebration come to an end. It is a special day in and of itself, but like every other calendar day, historical events have taken place on New Year's Eve.

First Times Square Ball Drop

People began celebrating New Year's Eve in New York's Time Square in 1904. For the first three years, street festivals and fireworks helped the revelers bring in the New Year. In 1907, the fireworks became impossible because of a city ban. That year, a huge wood and iron ball was slowly lowered as people counted down the last seconds of the year. Since that time, a festive ball has dropped in Times Square during the last seconds of every year.

Ted Bundy Escapes Prison

Ted Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States. He was hateful, manipulative and cunning man who killed an unknown number of women and children. He possessed a charming and handsome (by some standards) facade that belied his true nature. He was captured and imprisoned in 1975. At that time, he was charged with kidnapping and later found guilty of that charge. The following year, police finally pressed charges of murder against the maniac. Ted infamously represented himself.

On New Year's Eve, 1976, Ted Bundy made his escape from jail through the ceiling. He left Colorado, where he was being held, and had the nerve to go on another killing spree. He remained free for more than a month. During that time, he went to Florida and attacked four women, two of whom died. He then kidnapped, raped and murdered a 12-year-old girl. Six days later, and a month too late, he was recaptured.

British East India Trading Company is Chartered

Queen Elizabeth I is an almost mythical figure in British history. She was the daughter of Anne Boleyn, who was executed on her husband King Henry VIII's orders when Elizabeth was only two and a half years old. Elizabeth was then considered illegitimate. Despite this, she would go on to become the Queen of England and a beloved queen at that. Much more beloved than her vilified mother and her adulterous, self-serving father. She expanded her empire and did her best to make her country wealthy. One of her methods of expanding her empire and filling England's coffers was to establish the British East India Company on New Year's Eve, 1600.

Those who are familiar with pirate history will be familiar with this company. At one time, East India Company ships were targets for pirates because they were often laden with goods. The British East India Company was meant to strengthen British trading with India. In the end, it established nearly total British control of India.

Next time you celebrate New Year's Eve, just remember that somebody, somewhere just might be making history while you sip champagne.

Sources

History of New Year's Eve in Times Square, retrieved 12/12/10, timessquarenyc.org/nyc/nyc_history.html

East India Company, retrieved 12/12/10, iloveindia.com/history/modern-history/east-india-company.html

Ted Bundy Biography, retrieved 12/12/10, thebiography.co.uk/biographies/ted-bundy.html