December 23

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:

1788 – Maryland voted to cede a 100-square-mile area for the seat of the national government. About two-thirds of the area became the District of Columbia.

1823 – The poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” by Clement Moore, also known as “‘Twas the Night before Christmas…”, was published.

1856 – Ralph Collier was issued a patent for the first rotary egg beater.

1888 – Following a quarrel with Paul Gauguin, Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh cut off part of his own ear.

1913 – The Federal Reserve Bill was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. The act established 12 Federal Reserve Banks.

1942 – Comedian Bob Hope agreed to entertain U.S. airmen in Alaska. It was the first of the traditional Christmas shows.

1947 – The transistor was invented by John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain and William Shockley. It was first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories.

1951 – For the first time, an NFL championship game was televised nationally. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17. The DuMont Network paid $75,000 for the rights to the game.

1954 – The first successful kidney transplant was performed by J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray.

1954 – The Walt Disney movie “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was released.

1970 – In New York, NY, the topping out ceremony for original One World Trade Center (North Tower) took place (at 1,368 feet). The South Tower’s ceremony took place on July 19, 1971.

1972 – The 16 survivors of the Andes flight disaster were rescued after 73 days, having reportedly survived by cannibalism.

1973 – The TV soap opera “The Young and the Restless” debuted on CBS.

1978 – Michigan restored 21 as the legal drinking age. It had been down to 18.

1981 – NASA approved a plan to continue the Voyager II spacecraft on a trajectory that would take it within 66,000 miles of Uranus on July 24, 1986.

1986 – The experimental airplane “Voyager” completed the first non-stop, around-the-world flight without refueling as it landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It was piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager.

1987 – The movie “Good Morning, Vietnam”, starring Robin Williams, opened in theaters.

1987 – Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, who was serving a life sentence for the attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford in 1975, escaped from the Alderson Federal Prison for Women in West Virginia. She was recaptured two days later.

1997 – Terry Nichols was convicted by a Denver jury on charges of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter in the 1995 federal building bombing in Oklahoma City, OK. The bomb killed 168 people.

2003 – America reported its first case of mad cow disease when a slaughtered cow from a Washington farm tested positive for the illness. Several countries subsequently banned the importation of beef from the U.S.

2015 – Michigan had its first December tornado when a confirmed EF-1 tornado touched down in Canton, MI.

BIRTHDAYS:

Ronnie Schell – 94 years old (1931) – Comedian and actor

Bobby Ross – 89 years old (1936) – Football player and coach

Barney Rosenzweig – 88 years old (1937) – Screenwriter and producer

Bob Kahn – 87 years old (1938) – Computer scientist and engineer, co-developed the Transmission Control Protocol

Jorma Kaukonen – 85 years old (1940) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Ron Allen – 82 years old (1943) – Baseball player

Harry Shearer – 82 years old (1943) – Actor, voice artist, and comedian

Wesley Clark – 81 years old (1944) – General

Robbie Dupree – 79 years old (1946) – Singer-songwriter

Susan Lucci – 79 years old (1946) – Actress

Bill Rodgers – 78 years old (1947) – Runner

Jim Ferguson – 77 years old (1948) – Guitarist, composer, and journalist

Jack Ham – 77 years old (1948) – Football player and sportscaster

Rick Wohlhuter – 77 years old (1948) – Runner

Adrian Belew – 76 years old (1949) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Michael C. Burgess – 75 years old (1950) – Obstetrician and politician

William Kristol – 73 years old (1952) – Journalist, publisher, activist, and pundit

Gerrit W. Gong – 72 years old (1953) – Religious leader and academic

Brian Teacher – 71 years old (1954) – Tennis player

Joan Severance – 67 years old (1958) – Actress

Victoria Williams – 67 years old (1958) – Singer-songwriter

Jim Harbaugh – 62 years old (1963) – Football player and coach

Jess Harnell – 62 years old (1963) – Singer-songwriter and voice actor

Donna Tartt – 62 years old (1963) – Author

Eddie Vedder – 61 years old (1964) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Karyn Bryant – 57 years old (1968) – Journalist, actress, producer, and screenwriter

Barry Kooser – 57 years old (1968) – Painter and animator

Manuel Rivera-Ortiz – 57 years old (1968) – Puerto Rican-American photographer

Raymont Harris – 55 years old (1970) – Football player

Chris Cook – 54 years old (1971) – Race car driver

Lady Starlight – 50 years old (1975) – Singer-songwriter

Joanna Hayes – 49 years old (1976) – Hurdler and coach

Brad Lidge – 49 years old (1976) – Baseball player

Jamie Noble – 49 years old (1976) – Wrestler and producer

Alge Crumpler – 48 years old (1977) – Football player

Paul Shirley – 48 years old (1977) – Basketball player and blogger

Esthero – 47 years old (1978) – Canadian-American singer-songwriter and producer

Scott Gomez – 46 years old (1979) – Ice hockey player

Holly Madison – 46 years old (1979) – Model, television personality, and actress

Megan Mayhew Bergman – 46 years old (1979) – Author and educator

Cody Ross – 45 years old (1980) – Baseball player

Maritza Correia – 44 years old (1981) – Puerto Rican-American swimmer

Bernard Pollard – 41 years old (1984) – Football player

Josh Satin – 41 years old (1984) – Baseball player

Alison Sudol – 40 years old (1985) – Actress and singer-songwriter

T. J. Oshie – 39 years old (1986) – Ice hockey player

Mallory Hagan – 37 years old (1988) – Beauty queen, Miss America 2013

Mitch Haniger – 35 years old (1990) – Baseball player

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle – 35 years old (1990) – Actress and singer

Spencer Daniels – 33 years old (1992) – Actor

Reed Alexander – 31 years old (1994) – Actor

TODAY IS:

• National Christmas Movie Marathon Day: National Christmas Movie Marathon Day takes place every year, offering a perfect time to get into the holiday spirit with a cozy movie marathon​​​​​​​​​​. This day shines because it brings together the magic of Christmas and the joy of movies, providing a fantastic excuse to snuggle up with loved ones...
• National Roots Day: Exploring family history unveils a rich tapestry of the past, connecting individuals to the traditions and stories that shape their identity.
• Festivus: Put a non-commercial, parody spin on Christmas as depicted in Seinfeld by enjoying simplistic food and decorations, airing grievances and wrestling.
• Night of the Radishes: Night of the Radishes is a vibrant art event in Oaxaca that puts radish carving center stage. Local artisans whip out massive radishes and sculpt them into eye-catching scenes. They craft festive portrayals of dancers, animals, daily life, and folklore. Bright red skins and crisp white insides give each figure...
• 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.

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For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.