What Happened on January 25?

January 25 is Burns Night, when Scotland throws a birthday party — with poetry and haggis — for national poet Robert Burns. It's also the day the first Winter Olympics opened in the snowy Alps!

• 1915 — First transcontinental telephone call connects New York to San Francisco

  Alexander Graham Bell repeated his famous 1876 words across 3,400 miles, while President Wilson and AT&T executives joined a ceremonial four-way call. Read the full story →

• 1924 — The first Winter Olympics open in Chamonix, France

  'International Winter Sports Week' began in the French Alps with 16 nations competing in skiing, skating, hockey, bobsled, and more — later named the first official Winter Games. Read the full story →

• 1971 — Idi Amin seizes power in Uganda

  While President Obote traveled abroad, army commander Idi Amin took over Uganda in a coup — beginning one of Africa's most brutal dictatorships. Read the full story →

• 2011 — Egypt's 'Day of Revolt' launches the Tahrir Square protests

  Tens of thousands of Egyptians filled Cairo's streets on a planned 'Police Day' protest that grew into 18 days of demonstrations ending Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Robert Burns (1759–1796) · Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) · Corazon Aquino (1933–2009) · Alicia Keys (1981)

Days & observances

Burns Night · National Opposite Day · National Irish Coffee Day