December 21

Historic Events

2023

Fourteen people are killed and 25 others injured during a mass shooting at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. ›

2022

A Vega C rocket carrying two Pléiades Neo satellites fails after liftoff. ›

2020

A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurs, with the two planets separated in the sky by 0.1 degrees. This is the closest conjunction between the two planets since 1623. ›

2012

2012 phenomenon: Festivities are held in parts of Mesoamerica to commemorate the conclusion of b'ak'tun 13, a roughly 5,126-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar whose passing many New Age spiritualists had earlier held to portend a variety of cataclysmic or transformative events. ›

2004

Iraq War: A suicide bomber kills 22 at the forward operating base next to the main U.S. military airfield at Mosul, Iraq, the single deadliest suicide attack on American soldiers in Iraq. ›

1999

Cubana de Aviación Flight 1216 overshoots the runway at La Aurora International Airport, killing 18. ›

1995

The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control. ›

1992

A Dutch DC-10, flight Martinair MP 495, crashes at Faro Airport, Portugal, killing 56. ›

1991

Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The leaders of 11 now effectively autonomous Soviet republics sign the Alma-Ata Protocol establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States in place of the collapsing Soviet Union. ›

1988

A bomb explodes on board Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, killing 270. This is to date the deadliest air disaster to occur on British soil. ›

1979

Lancaster House Agreement: An independence agreement for Rhodesia is signed in London by Lord Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and S.C. Mundawarara. ›

1973

The Geneva Conference on the Arab–Israeli conflict opens. ›

1968

Apollo program: Apollo 8 is launched from the Kennedy Space Center, placing its crew on a lunar trajectory for the first visit to another celestial body by humans. ›

1967

Louis Washkansky, the first man to undergo a human-to-human heart transplant, dies in Cape Town, South Africa, having lived for 18 days after the transplant. ›

1965

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is adopted. ›

1963

"Bloody Christmas" begins in Cyprus, ultimately resulting in the displacement of 25,000–30,000 Turkish Cypriots and destruction of more than 100 villages. ›

1946

An 8.1 Mw earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Nankaidō, Japan, kills over 1,300 people and destroys over 38,000 homes. ›

1941

World War II: A Thai-Japanese Pact of Alliance is signed. ›

1934

Lieutenant Kijé, one of Sergei Prokofiev's best-known works, premiered. ›

1923

United Kingdom and Nepal formally sign an agreement of friendship, called the Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923, which superseded the Treaty of Sugauli signed in 1816. ›

1919

American anarchist Emma Goldman is deported to Russia. ›

1910

An underground explosion at the Hulton Bank Colliery No. 3 Pit in Over Hulton, Westhoughton, England, kills 344 miners. ›

1907

The Chilean Army commits a massacre of at least 2,000 striking saltpeter miners in Iquique, Chile. ›

1883

The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army, are formed. ›

1879

the fictional character of Nora Helmer is first portrayed by Betty Hennings at a showing of A Doll's House at the Royal Danish Theatre. ›

1872

Challenger expedition: HMS Challenger, commanded by Captain George Nares, sails from Portsmouth, England. ›

1861

Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. ›

1844

The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers commences business at its cooperative in Rochdale, England, starting the Cooperative movement. ›

1832

Egyptian–Ottoman War: Egyptian forces decisively defeat Ottoman troops at the Battle of Konya. ›

1826

American settlers in Nacogdoches, Mexican Texas, declare their independence, starting the Fredonian Rebellion. ›

1620

Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land near what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts. ›

1598

Battle of Curalaba: The revolting Mapuche, led by cacique Pelentaru, inflict a major defeat on Spanish troops in southern Chile. ›

1361

The Battle of Linuesa is fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the forces of the Emirate of Granada and the combined army of the Kingdom of Castile and of Jaén resulting in a Castilian victory. ›

1237

The city of Ryazan is sacked by the Mongol army of Batu Khan. ›

1140

After a siege of several weeks, the city of Weinsberg and its castle surrender to Conrad III of Germany. ›

1124

Pope Honorius II is consecrated, having been elected after the controversial dethroning of Pope-Elect Celestine II. ›

69

The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors. ›