Look Back To 2014: What Happened That Year
The Scottish referendum, the ice bucket challenge and streaming joining the chart.
Here's 2014 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.
Milestone birthday cards, drawn and printed by us
Funny and warm birthday cards, blank inside, printed in the UK with kraft envelopes. Order on a working day and it usually goes out the same day.
Happy Birthday Papa (Happy Birthday Card) (Multiple designs)
£3.87
Happy Birthday Bab (Happy Birthday Card) (Multiple designs)
£3.87
Yoda Best Multi-Occasion Greeting Card
£3.87
Happy Birthday Handsome (Happy Birthday Card) (Multiple designs)
£3.87
You Old Bastard (Funny Birthday Card)
£3.87
Happy Birthday Card For The World's Best Sister-in-Law
£3.87
In the charts in 2014
- 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams was the year's best-selling single.
- Streaming was added to the official singles chart in July.
- Ben Haenow's 'Something I Need' was the Christmas number one.
In the news in 2014
- Scotland voted to stay in the UK on 18 September, by 55 to 45.
- The First World War centenary was marked, with the ceramic poppies at the Tower of London.
- The ice bucket challenge raised large sums for motor neurone disease charities.
On screen in 2014
- The Grand Budapest Hotel and Guardians of the Galaxy were the films people liked.
- Bake Off moved to BBC One and drew over ten million viewers.
- Netflix originals started to matter in Britain.
In sport in 2014
- Germany won the World Cup in Brazil; England went out in the group stage.
- The Commonwealth Games were held in Glasgow.
- Lewis Hamilton won his second Formula One title.
Everyday life in 2014
- Contactless payment limits rose and cash use started falling quickly.
- Selfie sticks appeared, briefly, everywhere.
- The Tour de France started in Yorkshire in July.
If you were born in 2014
- Anyone born in 2014 was born the year the Tour de France came to Yorkshire.
- They have never known a chart that did not count streaming.
- Anyone born in 2014 turns 30 in 2044, 40 in 2054, 50 in 2064, 60 in 2074 and 70 in 2084.
- For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
- For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.
How to write it so it lands
- The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
- Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
- Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.
Where to shop next
- Look back to 2017
- Look back to 2016
- Look back to 2015
- Look back to 2013
- Look back to 2012
- Look back to 2011
- The 2010s: the whole decade
- 2010s party playlist
- Phone party games
- How to run a quiz night
- Decade music round questions
- Guess the year quiz
- The 2020s so far
- The 2000s: the whole decade
- The 1990s: the whole decade
- The 1980s: the whole decade
- The 1970s: the whole decade
- The 1960s: the whole decade
- The 1950s: the whole decade
- The 1940s: the whole decade
- The 1930s: the whole decade
- The 1920s: the whole decade
- Decade calendar: every year from 1920
- Decade trivia: fun facts by era
- Decade trivia game: play for points
- Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
- Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
- Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
- Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
- Decade films: best movies and directors by era
- Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
- Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
- Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
- Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
- Nostalgia gift shop
- Retro party supplies
- Nostalgia birthday party by decade
- Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
- Care home reminiscence quiz
- Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
- Milestone birthday cards
- Shop birthday cards
- Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
- Pin badges
- All guides
Frequently asked questions
What was the result of the Scottish independence referendum?
On 18 September 2014, 55.3 per cent voted no and 44.7 per cent voted yes.
What was the Christmas number one in 2014?
'Something I Need' by Ben Haenow.
How old is someone born in 2014?
Subtract 2014 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2054, 50 in 2064, 60 in 2074 and 70 in 2084.
Do you sell anything to do with this year?
We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.