Holidays, Celebrations on December 21st

Interesting Facts of December 21st

1. 1. December 21st is typically the date of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year, marking the astronomical beginning of winter.
2. 2. In the Southern Hemisphere, December 21st typically marks the summer solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year, signifying the start of summer.
3. 3. December 21st, 1968, witnessed the launch of Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon, marking a significant milestone in the Space Race.
4. 4. On December 21st, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people from 21 countries.
5. 5. The date is celebrated as Forefathers' Day in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to commemorate the landing of the Pilgrims.
6. 6. Historically, the Mayan calendar's 13th Baktun cycle was completed on December 21st, 2012, leading to various end-of-the-world speculations and theories due to misinterpretations of Mayan cosmology.
7. 7. In 1913, on December 21st, the first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World newspaper, created by journalist Arthur Wynne, which led to the widespread popularity of crossword puzzles that we see today.
8. 8. December 21st, 1937, marked the premiere of Disney's first full-length animated feature, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
9. 9. On December 21st, 1620, the Mayflower Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts, an event which is often considered one of the cornerstones of American history.