January 2, 2026
The Second Ibrox Disaster (1971)
On several occasions in the 1960s, spectators at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, were killed or injured while trying to exit through the stairway closest to the nearby subway station, raising questions about safety. Tragically, 66 people were crushed to death in the staircase in early 1971. The crush is believed to have been triggered when, after a late goal by the home team, thousands of fans attempted to leave at the same time—and someone fell. What claimed 25 lives at Ibrox in 1902?
January 1, 2026
Times Square Ball Drops for the First Time (1908)
In 1904, The New York Times moved its headquarters to what is now known as Times Square. That December, it held a New Year's Eve celebration that proved to be quite popular. A few years later, the newspaper created an illuminated time ball—then a well-known dockside device by which sailors set their ships' clocks—that would fall at midnight. The annual ball-drop outlived both the newspaper's address on the square and the use of time balls in general. What was Times Square's original name?
December 31, 2025
The Vandals Invade Gaul (406 CE)
An ancient Germanic tribe that originated in North Jutland, the Vandals began a decades-long migration in the early 5th century. The violent path they cut through Europe made their name synonymous with senseless destruction. Crossing the Rhine in 406 CE, they invaded their first stop, Gaul. The Roman-allied Franks refused to allow them to settle there, so the Vandals devastated the region and kept moving. By the time they sacked Rome in 455 CE, they had established a kingdom of their own—where?
