December 31 – On This Day - RealLife Debates

1879 – Thomas Edison gives the first public demonstration of the practical incandescent light bulb at his Menlo Park laboratory. HISTORY
1904 – The first New Year’s Eve celebration is held in Times Square (then Longacre Square), New York City — an event that eventually evolves into the annual ball‑drop tradition. Wikipedia
1909 – The Manhattan Bridge opens for traffic, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River. Time and Date
1999 – The control of the Panama Canal is officially handed over to the Republic of Panama after being administered by the United States. HISTORY

Anthony Hopkins — 1937 — Welsh actor, acclaimed for his long career in film and theatre. Encyclopedia Britannica
Henri Matisse — 1869–1954 — Influential French painter and modern-art pioneer. HISTORY
Ben Kingsley — 1943 — British actor of wide fame, known for roles in many internationally recognized films. Jagranjosh.com
Val Kilmer — 1959 — American actor, known for diverse film roles spanning several decades. Jagranjosh.com

December 31 is globally recognized as New Year’s Eve, the final day of the year in the Gregorian calendar — a moment many use to reflect on the past year and celebrate the arrival of the next. Wikipedia