THURSDAY, Jan. 1, 2026

45-B.C. Julian calendar takes effect for the first time by edict of Roman dictator Julius Caesar 630-Conquest of Mecca: Prophet Muhammad sets out with an army 10,000 strong to conquer Mecca 1758-International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature establishes the "starting point" for standardized species names across the animal kingdom based on the binomial nomenclature in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae by Carolus Linnaeus 1863-Emancipation Proclamation is issued by Abraham Lincoln to free slaves in Confederate states 1892-Ellis Island opens as a U.S. immigration inspection station, becomes the gateway to the U.S. for more than 12 million people 1896-German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of x-rays 1958-European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market 1981-Greece is 10th country to join European Economic Community