December 21

Scott Winters December 21, 2025 0 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1620 – William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims landed on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, MA.

1891 – The first game of basketball, invented by faculty member James Naismith, was believed to have been played at Springfield College in Massachusetts.

1898 – The radioactive element radium was discovered by scientists Pierre and Marie Curie.

1913 – Arthur Wynne published a new “word-cross” puzzle in the “New York World” in England. The name was later changed to “crossword.”

1914 – Marie Dressler, Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand and Mack Swain appeared in the first six-reel, feature-length comedy — “Tillie’s Punctured Romance”.

1937 – Walt Disney debuted the first, full-length, animated feature in Hollywood, CA. The movie was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.

1944 – Horse racing was banned in the United States until after the end of World War II.

1951 – Joe DiMaggio announced his retirement from major league baseball.

1960 – The Disney movie “Swiss Family Robinson” premiered in theaters.

1967 – Louis Washkansky, the first man to undergo a heart transplant, died in Cape Town, South Africa. He lived for 18 days after the transplant.

1967 – “The Graduate”, starring Dustin Hoffman, premiered in New York, NY.

1968 – Apollo 8 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on a mission to orbit the moon. It was the first visit to another celestial body by humans. The craft landed safely in the Pacific Ocean on December 27th.

1970 – Elvis Presley went to the White House to volunteer his services to President Richard Nixon in the fight against drugs.

1978 – Police in Des Plaines, IL, arrested John W. Gacy Jr. and began unearthing the remains of 33 men and boys that Gacy was later convicted of having murdered.

1979 – Willie Nelson made his acting debut in “The Electric Horseman”, starring with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.

1988 – The movie “Working Girl”, starring Melanie Griffith, premiered in theaters.

1988 – A terrorist bomb went off on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. All 259 passengers on board, and 11 people on the ground, were killed.

1997 – Detroit Lion Barry Sanders set a NFL rushing record, when he became the third NFL player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season.

1998 – The first vaccine for Lyme disease was approved.

2001 – Congress passed a $20 billion package to finance the “war against terrorism” being fought in Afghanistan.

2002 – Larry Mayes was released after spending 21 years in prison for a rape that maintained that he never committed. He was the 100th person in the U.S. to be released after DNA tests were performed.

2004 – A suicide bomber killed 22 at the forward operating base next to the main U.S. military airfield at Mosul, Iraq. It was the single deadliest suicide attack on American soldiers.

2012 – The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of Lucasfilm and of the “Star Wars” franchise.

2012 – People wondered if the world would end when a Mayan calendar predicted it would happen on this date. It obviously didn’t happen!

2012 – The song “Gangnam Style” became the first video to hit one billion views on YouTube.com.

2020 – A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurred, with the two planets separated in the sky by 0.1 degrees. This was the closest conjunction between the two planets since 1623.

BIRTHDAYS:

Phil Roman – 95 years old (1930) – Animator

Edward Hoagland – 93 years old (1932) – Author and critic

Robert Worcester – 92 years old (1933) – Businessman and academic, founded MORI

Jane Fonda – 88 years old (1937) – Actress and activist

Larry Bryggman – 87 years old (1938) – Actor

Carla Thomas – 83 years old (1942) – Singer

Michael Tilson Thomas – 81 years old (1944) – Pianist, composer, and conductor

Roy Karch – 79 years old (1946) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Barry Gordon – 77 years old (1948) – Actor and voice artist; longest-serving president of the Screen Actors Guild (1988–95)

Samuel L. Jackson – 77 years old (1948) – Actor and producer

Dave Kingman – 77 years old (1948) – Baseball player

Jeffrey Katzenberg – 75 years old (1950) – Screenwriter and producer, co-founded DreamWorks Animation

Dennis Boutsikaris – 73 years old (1952) – Actor

Steve Furniss – 73 years old (1952) – Swimmer

Chris Evert – 71 years old (1954) – Tennis player and coach

Jane Kaczmarek – 70 years old (1955) – Actress

Ray Romano – 68 years old (1957) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter

Andy Dick – 60 years old (1965) – Actor and comedian

Michelle Hurd – 59 years old (1966) – Actress

Terry Mills – 58 years old (1967) – Basketball player and coach

Natalie Grant – 54 years old (1971) – Singer-songwriter and author

Buddy Carlyle – 48 years old (1977) – Baseball player

Freddy Sanchez – 48 years old (1977) – Baseball player

Charles Dera – 47 years old (1978) – Pornographic actor, dancer, model, and mixed martial arts fighter

Rutina Wesley – 47 years old (1978) – Actress

Philip Humber – 43 years old (1982) – Baseball player

Taylor Teagarden – 42 years old (1983) – Baseball player

Steven Yeun – 42 years old (1983) – Actor

Khris Davis – 38 years old (1987) – Baseball player

Danny Duffy – 37 years old (1988) – Baseball player

Mark Ingram II – 36 years old (1989) – Football player

Otis – 34 years old (1991) – Wrestler

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – 33 years old (1992) – Football player

Kaitlyn Dever – 29 years old (1996) – Actress

Madelyn Cline – 28 years old (1997) – Actress and model

Charlie McAvoy – 28 years old (1997) – Ice hockey player

Cooper Flagg – 19 years old (2006) – Basketball player

TODAY IS:

World Basketball Day: A fascinating game that started in North America and has grown over the years to be a major sensation, basketball is actually a simple sport that is played all over the world in neighborhood parks and household driveways as well as in enormous stadiums with thousands of fans. World Basketball...
Don’t Make Your Bed Day: Unfurling your sheets and leaving your covers a mess might just give you the relaxation you didn't know you needed.
National Coquito Day: It's the festive elixir that brings a warm embrace to your taste buds with every sip. A holiday in a glass!
Yule: Yule is a time of joy and reflection. This festive day carries deep significance, marking a period of renewal and hope. People gather to celebrate the return of light as the days begin to lengthen. Many find comfort in the warmth of family and friends during this time. Traditions, both old...
International Dalek Remembrance Day: Getting hyped and cheering for those iconic, menacing metal menaces from another galaxy who always keep the Doctor on their toes.
National French Fried Shrimp Day: Crispy, golden-brown and delicious! These crunchy treats are the perfect appetizer for any seafood lover, especially if you love shrimp!
National Maine Day: National Maine Day invites everyone to explore Maine's beauty and heritage! This day marks a moment to reflect on Maine's contributions to America's landscape, from its vast forests to its iconic coastline. It honors Maine's statehood and all the unique traits that set it apart. The day encourages exploration of Maine's great...
National Short Story Day: Get lost in worlds within words — create characters, weave plots, and inspire imaginations. Reading and writing is a passport to adventure!
National Crossword Puzzle Day: Solving those mind-teasers, they're like brain workouts that offer a fun challenge, keeping the mental gears oiled and gears turning.
National Flashlight Day: Flashlights, as they are known as in the United States, have been a fundamental way to help us see the paths that we walk in the pitch black night. They help us to keep an eye out for dangers in the path or help us find our way back to...
Look On The Bright Side Day: Seeing the sun even on the cloudiest day, finding silver linings when life throws lemons - that's the spirit that keeps us going.
International Energy Drink Day: Invigorating elixirs — they bestow a surge of vitality, fueling resilience and awakening the spirit with their electrifying potency.
National Short Girl Appreciation Day: Embracing the beauty and strength within petite frames, these remarkable women bring a unique perspective and inspire others through their resilience and grace.
Humbug Day: Have a good old grumble to destress and channel your inner scrooge by reading a Dickens novel or donning a top hat and cane.
Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day: Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day celebrates the moment Phileas Fogg completed his thrilling adventure around the world. In Jules Verne's famous novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, Fogg bet £20,000 that he could circle the globe in just 80 days, a challenge that seemed impossible to many. This day...
National Armagnac Day: Armagnac is a bold French brandy with a long-standing reputation for flavor and craftsmanship. Unlike its more famous cousin, Cognac, this spirit comes from the Gascony region and is usually made by smaller, family-run producers. Its complex taste develops slowly in oak barrels, giving each bottle its own unique character. Enthusiasts...
World Snowboard Day: World Snowboard Day is a global celebration of snowboarding, inviting people of all ages and skill levels to experience the thrill of gliding down snowy slopes. It offers free lessons, gear trials, and events at resorts worldwide, making the sport accessible to newcomers and seasoned riders alike. The day fosters a...
Gravy Day: Honoring Paul Kelly's festive ballad, celebrating familial bonds and memories, adds a melodic touch to Christmas traditions.
Winter Solstice: The winter solstice marks a unique point in Earth's journey around the sun. At this time, one of the planet's poles tilts farthest from the sun, resulting in the shortest daylight period and the longest night of the year. This phenomenon occurs because of the Earth's axial tilt, which causes...
National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day: National Homeless Persons' Remembrance Day is about real people with real lives. These were someone’s children, friends, or neighbors. Each one had stories, dreams, and memories—though many left this world without anyone to tell them. On this day, people gather with candles, quiet voices, and heavy hearts. They speak the names...
Ribbon Candy Day: Delicately spun sugar strands that swirl with vibrant colors, this sweet treat captures the whimsy of childhood in its intricate design.
Zagreb Advent: Zagreb Advent is a magical celebration that transforms Croatia's capital into a winter wonderland. The streets light up with festive decorations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wooden stalls filled with handmade crafts and delicious treats line the squares, and the air is filled with the scent of mulled wine and...
Christmas Bird Count Week: Christmas Bird Count Week is exciting for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers. During this week, thousands of volunteers across multiple countries joined forces to count and document bird species. This event is fun and crucial for gathering important data about bird populations. The observations help scientists track bird numbers and...
Advent: Advent marks a period of eager anticipation and preparation for Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Each year, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which can fall anywhere between November 27 and December 3, ending on Christmas Eve, December 24. This timing reminds us that the holiday...
Saturnalia: Saturnalia, celebrated from December 17 to 23, is a vibrant festival from ancient Rome. It originally honored Saturn, the god of agriculture. Initially a one-day affair, the jubilation soon spread across an entire week due to its immense popularity. The festivity marked the end of the autumn planting season and...
Blue Christmas: While most people are at home opening presents, emergency workers are on duty, ensuring the safety of their communities over the holidays.