By Annabella Ramirez
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas (born December 31, 1995) is an American artistic gymnast. She is the 2012 Olympic all-around champion and the 2015 World all-around silver medalist. She was a member of the gold-winning teams at both the 2012 and the 2016 Summer Olympics, dubbed the “Fierce Five” and the “Final Five” by the media, respectively. She was a member of the gold-winning American teams at the 2011 and the 2015 World Championships. She was also the 2012 U.S. champion on uneven bars. Additionally, she was the 2016 American Cup all-around champion.
Douglas is the first African American to win an Olympic individual all-around title, and the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in both the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics. With a total of six Olympic and World Championship medals, she is the eleventh most decorated U.S. female gymnast of all time.
As a public figure, Douglas’ gymnastics successes have led to her life story adaptation in the 2014 Lifetime biopic film, The Gabby Douglas Story, as well as the acquisition of her own reality television series, Douglas Family Gold. Douglas has also written a book about her life and what it takes to be an Olympic gold medalist by determination and perseverance.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
In Scotland, December 31 is known as Hogmanay, the word children use to ask for their traditional present of an oatmeal cake (which is why this is also called Cake Day). It’s believed that Hogmanay originated with the invading Vikings who celebrated the passing of the winter solstice with much revelry.
Immediately after midnight it is traditional to sing Robert Burns’ Auld Lang Syne”—
“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”
Along with fireworks, “First footing” (or the “first foot” in the house after midnight) is still common across Scotland. The first person to cross the threshold into one’s home, called the first footer, is an indication of the year to come. Although the tradition varies, if the first footer is tall and dark, the year will be a good one.
Of course, the entire spirit of a Hogmanay party is to welcome both friends and strangers with warm hospitality and of course lots of kissing all-around!
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- Jacques Cartier (explorer) –
- Henri Matisse (artist) –
- Jule Styne (composer) –
- Odetta (American folk singer) –
- Anthony Hopkins (actor) –
- Ben Kingsley (actor) –
- John Denver (singer) –
- Donna Summer (singer) –
- Val Kilmer (actor) –
- Nicholas Sparks (author) –
- Gabby Douglas (gymnast, Olympic gold medalist) –
Died
- Rick Nelson (singer) –
- Edward Herrmann (actor) –
- Natalie Cole (singer) –
- Pope Benedict XVI –
Events
- A window tax was imposed in England, causing many shopkeepers to brick up their windows to avoid the tax –
- Baltimore, Maryland was incorporated –
- Ottawa selected by Queen Victoria as capital of Province of Canada –
- The cornerstone for the Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Hawaii, was laid –
- Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians first played Auld Lang Syne” at midnight” –
- C. B. Darrow received a patent for his Monopoly game –
- Entertainer Roy Rogers and actress Dale Evans were married –
- Helium-filled sun shade patented –
- The last new Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strip was published –
- An extra second, or leap second, was added to clocks worldwide –
Weather
- Los Angeles received 7.36 inches of rain in 24 hours, causing flooding –
- For the month of December, Kansas City, Missouri, received a total snowfall of 16.6 inches. –
- New Year’s Eve snowstorm hit the deep South: Meridian, Mississippi, received 15 inches of snow –
- Concord, New Hampshire, set a new December snowfall record with 44.5 inches for the month –
COURTESY www.almanac.com
