US Federal Holidays:
Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Astrological Signs:
Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21
Capricorn: December 22 - January 19
Birthstones:
Blue Topaz or Turquoise (modern)
Zircon, Turquoise, or Lapis Lazuli (traditional)
Flower:
Narcissus
The Narcissus stands for self-love.
Monthly Observances:
Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month (US National)
GERD Awareness Week (Gastroesophageal Reflux disease)
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) Web site: www.aboutgerd.org
Hi Neighbor Month (Something we've seen on some of the online greeting card sites.)
www.greetsomeone.com/december/neighbor1.shtml
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Prevent Blindness America Web site: www.preventblindness.org
Stress Free Family Holiday Month (US National)
Read A New Book Month (So far, we can only find a reference to this on the greeting card sites.)
www.icq.americangreetings.com/category.pd?path=23926
National Book Month sponsored by the National Book Foundation is in October.
Weekly Observances:
First Week of December:
Aplastic Anemia Awareness Week (National)
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation Web site: www.aamds.org
Second Week of December:
Chanukah - December 8 - December 15, 2004
www.aish.com/holidays
Hand Washing Awareness Week (National)
Henry The Hand Foundation Web site: www.henrythehand.com
Third Week of December:
No listings yet.
Fourth Week of December:
No listings yet.
Daily Calendar:
December 1:
AIDS Awareness Day (World Aids Day)
Source: www.avert.org/worldaid.htm
American Association for World Health Web site: www.aawhworldhealth.org
Note: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7, 2004 (Source: www.blackaidsday.org)
Eat A Red Apple Day
www.all-yours.net/program/thumbs.ar?gal=eatredapple1
www.theteacherscorner.net/calendars/december.htm
Playboy Magazine first published, 1953
Rosa Parks Day: www.rosaparks.org
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Woody Allen, 1935
Warren Spahn (Baseball, Hall of Fame pitcher) died December 1, 2003 at the age of 82.
December 2:
Safety razor patented, 1901
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Britney Spears, 1981
Desi Arnaz died from lung cancer, December 2, 1986
December 3:
The world's first heart transplant performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, 1967
www.newsday.com/other/special/ny-ihny0416story.htmlstory
International Day of Disabled Persons (observed December 3rd every year)
United Nations www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disiddp.htm
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Daryl Hannah, 1960
Ozzy Osbourne, 1948
Katarina Witt, 1965
Madeline Kahn, Actress - died Dec. 3, 1999 from ovarian cancer. Was born 9/29/1942.
Renoir - Pierre-Auguste Renoir died December 3, 1919. He was born on February 25, 1841. See bio at: www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/renoir (Thanks Casandra!)
4 December 4:
no listings yet
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Jeff Bridges, 1950
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5 December 5:
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Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Walt Disney
Little Richard
Strom Thurmond. 1902 (politician) died June 26, 2003.
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6 December 6:
St. Nicholas Day, December 6th
Source: www.wf-f.org/st.nicholas.html
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Ira Gershwin
Frances Bavier – "Aunt Bee" on The Andy Griffith show died of heart failure on December 6, 1989. (The Andy Griffith show ended in 1968.)
7 December 7:
Civil Aviation Day (National)
Source: www.icao.int/icao/en/aviation_day.htm
Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 7, 2004
For information about Hanukah, see: www.infoplease.com/spot/hanukkah.html
Chanukah - December 8 - December 15, 2004
www.aish.com/holidays
Pearl Harbor Day - National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Anniversary of Japan bombing Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Johnny Bench: Born December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City. Cincinnati Red, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and All Century Catcher. Official Web site: www.JohnnyBench.com
Ellen Burstyn, 1933
Harry Chapin
no listings yet
8 December 8:
Chanukah (Hanukkah)- December 8 - December 15, 2004
www.aish.com/holidays
Immaculate Conception
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Kim Bassinger, 1953
Sammy Davis, Jr., 1925
Terri Hatcher, 1964
Eli Whitney, Inventor of cotton gin - 1765-1825
John Lennon - Musician, former Beatle, died December 8, 1980
9 December 9:
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Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Clarence Birdseye, 1886-1956 - Frozen food giant Birdseye Foods.
Emmett Kelly, 1898-1979 - Famous clown
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10 December 10:
Grand Ole Opry - first radio broadcast from Nashville TN, 1927
Human Rights Day (UN)
The UN General Assembly adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.
United Nations Press Release announcing Human Rights Day on December 10, 2002: Click Here
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Web site: www.unhchr.ch/news/day.htm
Mighty Mouse Playhouse premiered 1955 - Saturday morning cartoon on CBS - "Here he comes to save the day!"
www.melaman2.com/cartoons/singles/m-mouse.html
Mississippi becomes the 20th US State, 1817
The Nobel Prize is awarded on December 10th, the anniversary of Nobel's death in 1896. Web site: www.nobelprize.org
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Melvil Dewey, 1851 - Librarian and creator of the Dewey Decimal Classification System, also called the Dewey Decimal System (a system of library classification)
Susan Dey, 1954 (Actress)
Emily Dickinson, 1886 (Author)
Chet Huntley, 1911 (Journalist)
Alfred Nobel - Founder of the Nobel Peace Prize. Died December 10, 1896. The Nobel Prize is awarded on December 10th each year, the anniversary of his death. Born October 21, 1833 in Stockholm, Sweden. Web site: www.nobelprize.org.)
Otis Redding, Musician. Famous for "Sittin On The Dock of the Bay" - Died December 10, 1967 in a plane crash. Born September 9, 1949 in Dawson, Georgia. Web site: www.otisredding.com. (Thanks Casandra!)
11 December 11:
Muhammad Ali's last fight, 1981
Apollo 17 lands on the moon, 1972
The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, 1620 (Some sources say December 11th, some say December 21st.)
Source for December 11th: www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/Pilgrims/Pilgrims.htm
Source for December 11th: ParentsPlace.com - Click Here
Source for December 11th: www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/thanksgiving/history.htm
Confused on the date? December 11th or December 21st? See www.pilgrimhall.org/OldNew.htm
Indiana became the 19th US State on December 11, 1816.
Germany and Italy declare war on the United States, 1941
UNICEF is established
United Nations Children's Fund Web site: www.unicef.org
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Rita Moreno, 1931 (singer, dancer)
Brenda Lee, 1944 (singer)
Jermaine Jackson, 1954 (singer - Jackson 5)
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12 December 12:
Bonza Bottler Day. An excuse to celebrate. This happens every month when the day and the date are the same number. (September 9, October 10, November 11, December 12, etc.)
Boys Town was founded, 1917, by Father Edward J. Flannigan.
It is now known as Girls and Boys Town. Web site: www.girlsandboystown.org
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Observed December 12th every year
For information see these Web sites: www.wf-f.org/Guadalupe.html and www.sancta.org/intro.html
Poinsettia Day
US Steel was formed, 1900
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Connie Francis, 1938 (singer)
Cathy Rigby, 1952 (gymnast)
Edward G. Robinson, 1893 (actor)
Frank Sinatra, 1915 (singer, actor)
Dionne Warwick, 1940 (singer)
Douglas Fairbanks, 1939 (actor)
13 December 13:
Ice Cream and Violins Day -- December 13 each year
Source: www.allabouticecream.com/History/nationaldays.html
First Susan B. Anthony Dollar, 1978
St. Lucy Day (Catholic Religion)
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Dick Van Dyke, 1925 (actor, comedian)
Mary Todd Lincoln, 1818 (Abraham Lincoln's wife and former First Lady)
Ted Nugent, 1948 (musician) Web site: www.tednugent.com
Christopher Plummer, 1927 (actor)
Thomas Watson, 1854 (telephone pioneer)
Grandma Moses, 1961 (artist)
14 December 14:
Alabama becomes the 22nd US State, 1819
NASCAR founded, 1947
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Morey Amsterdam, 1908 (actor & comedian)
Patty Duke, 1946 (actress)
Nostradamus, 1503 (astrologer & mathematician)
Lee Remick, 1935 (actress)
Myrna Loy, died in 1993 (actress)
Roger Maris, died 1985 (Baseball Hall of Fame)
15 December 15:
Bill of Rights Day, the United States Bill of Rights is passed on December 14, 1791
Bill of Rights Day - Where in the US: www.jpfo.org/bor-chrt.htm
Bill of Rights Day, December 15. The Bill of Rights was adopted on this day. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. Source: www.shagtown.com/days/usa.html
First episode of the TV show Davy Crockett airs, 1954
www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/davy-crockett.htm
Gone With the Wind premiers, 1939
Netscape Navigator is released, 1994
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Tim Conway, 1933 (actor, comedian)
Don Johnson, 1959 (actor)
Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966 and was cremated.
16 December 16:
Battle of the Bulge began, 1944
Boston Tea Party, 1773
"Dragnet" premiers on TV, 1951
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Jane Austen, 1775 (author)
Steven Bochco, 1943 (Producer, writer)
Benjamin Bratt, 1963
Leonid Brezhnev, 1906 (President of the Soviet Union)
no listings yet
17 December 17:
1903 - First flight by the Wright Brothers, 1903 (59 seconds, Outer Banks NC)
www.firstflight.org
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Danny DeVito, 1944 (actor)
Arthur Fiedler, 1894 (conductor)
Rock Hudson, 1925 (actor.) Died October 2, 1985
Lauren Hutton, 1943 (model, actress)
Gordon Lightfoot, 1938 (musician)
Lorne Michaels, 1944 (producer)
Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770 (composer)
Dana Andrews, 1992 (actor)
18 December 18:
Japan was admitted to the United Nations, 1956
New Jersey Admission Day, December 18. Became the third state on December 18, 1787.
The 13th Amendment is ratified on December 18, 1865 (abolishing slavery.)
Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site - www.nps.gov/malu/documents/amend13.htm
President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on February 1, 1865. February 1st is now observed as Freedom Day.
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Christina Aguilera, 1980 (Singer)
Ty Cobb, 1886 (baseball)
Betty Grable, 1916
Katie Holmes, 1978 (Actress)
Ray Liotta, 1955 (Actor)
Brad Pitt, 1963 (Actor)
Keith Richards, 1943 (musician, Rolling Stones)
Steven Spielberg, 1947 (Director - E.T., Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan)
no listings yet
19 December 19:
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Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Alyssa Milano, 1972
Hope Lange, 2003 (Actress - TV Series "The Ghost & Mrs. Muier) died December 19, 2003 from colitis at the age of 70. Born November 28, 1933.
20 December 20:
no listings yet
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Anita Baker, 1957
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21 December 21:
Forefathers' Day, December 21 - Observed in New England since 1769. Commemorates the landing of the Pilgrims.
Source: www.mayflowerfamilies.com/mayflower/pilgrim_anniversaries.htm
Pilgrims land at Plymouth, 1620.
"The exploring party landed in Plymouth on December 21, 1620. No 17th century sources mention landing on a rock. Nevertheless, Plymouth Rock has become one of the most enduring symbols of the Pilgrims." Source: www.pilgrimhall.org/arrival.htm
The Pilgrims first landed at what was to become Provincetown, on Cape Cod, on November 21, 1620. Source: www.pilgrimhall.org/arrival.htm
Also see December 11 - many sources state December 11 was the day the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. "Confused on the date the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth - December 11th or December 21st? See www.pilgrimhall.org/OldNew.htm.
Winter Solstice - Winter Begins (2004)
Winter Solstice: Dec. 21, 2004, Dec. 21, 2005
For information about Winter Solstice, how the date is determined, history, everything you'd ever want to know, see: www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Samuel L. Jackson, 1948
Ray Romano, 1957
Kiefer Sutherland, 1966
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22 December 22:
Maritime Day (US National)
10th of Tevet - December 22, 2004
"A Fast Day -- to remember the day when the Babylonians first laid siege to Jerusalem, beginning a long line of disasters for the Jewish people." For more information: www.aish.com/holidays.
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Diane Sawyer, 1945
Maurice & Robin Gibb (twins), 1949 (Bee Gees.) Maurice Gibb died January 12, 2003 from a heart attack and intestinal blockage.
Gene Rayburn, 1917 (Game Show Host - Match Game and others.) Born December 22, 1917. Died November 29, 1999 from heart disease.
no listings yet
23 December 23:
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Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Susan Lucci, 1949 - Actress
Dick Weber, 1929 (Bowler) - died 2/15/05. For more info, Click Here
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24 December 24:
Christmas Eve
Eggnog Day (National US) Source: WISR 680AM News Sheet, December 24, 2002. www.wisr680.com
Remember To Read The Instructions First Night, a night for assembling toys. Source:
www.wisr680.com
Silent Night (Stille Nacht) was sung for the first time at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria on December 24, 1818. Words were from a poem written by Josef Mohr and the melody was written and played on a guitar by Franz Gruber. Source: WISR 680AM News Sheet, December 24, 2002.
www.wisr680.com
The Bicycle Brake Operated by Pedaling Backward was patented by Daniel Stover and William Hance in 1889. Source: WISR 680AM News Sheet, December 24, 2002. www.wisr680.com
"On Christmas Eve, 1906, using his heterodyne principle, Reginald Fessenden transmitted the first radio audio broadcast in history from Brant Rock Station, Massachusetts. Ships at sea heard a broadcast that included Fessenden playing the song O Holy Night on the violin and reading a passage from the Bible." Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
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25 December 25:
Christmas Day - The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Carols
Christmas Humor
Christmas Poems
Christmas Stories
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Noel Hogan, 1971 (Musician - The Cranberries)
Alan King, 1927 (Actor, comedian, TV personality) died May 9, 2004 from lung cancer.
no listings yet
26 December 26:
Boxing Day
Observed the same date each year in: UK, Canada, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, West Virginia
First Day of Kwanzaa - A Celebration of Family, Community & Culture
Celebrated December 26th thru January 1st
Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga
Official Kwanzaa Web site: www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
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27 December 27:
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Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
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Alan Bates (Actor) died December 27, 2003 at the age of 69. Born 2/17/1934. Numerous films including "The Mothman Prophecies," "Spartacus" and many more. For info see: www.imdb.com/name/nm0000869
28 December 28:
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Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
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Jerry Orbach (actor - Law & Order) died December 28, 2004 at the age of 69.
Dennis Wilson, Beach Boys drummer, drowned on December 28, 1983 at the age of 39.
29 December 29:
Texas became the 28th US State on December 29, 1845.
Formation of the first YMCA in the United States in Boston, 1851
http://kzooymca.org/history.html
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
no listings yet
Tim Hardin, song writer - died December 29, 1980 from a drug overdose. (Wrote "If I Was A Carpenter" and other songs.)
Earl Hindman (Actor) died December 29, 2003 of cancer at the age of 61. Born 10/20/42. Played Tim Allen's next door neighbor (whose face was always partially hidden) on the TV Series "Home Improvement." Also played on the daytime soap opera, "Ryan's Hope."
30 December 30:
No listings yet
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Matt Lauer, 1957
Tracey Ullman, 1959
Tiger Woods, 1975
Artie Shaw, Jazz Clarinetist and Big Band Leader - Died 12/31/04 at the age of 94.
31 December 31:
New Year's Eve
For good information about New Year's Eve, see: http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm
For New Year's E-cards, poems & other information, see: www.funmunch.com/events/new_year/
Official end of WWII, 1946
Celebrity Birthdays, Death Anniversaries:
Anthony Hopkins, 1937
Val Kilmer, 1959
Joey McIntyre, 1972
no listings yet
What Happened Today In History?