21 fun facts for December, 16
Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
Summary
December 16th is an eventful date that includes historic events like the Boston Tea Party, the launch of Pioneer 6, and the invention of the first transistor. It's a special day for countries like Bahrain, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan and marks numerous artistic milestones such as the premiere of Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and the birthday of Jane Austen.
21 Fun facts
- On December 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place in the United States. Angry colonists, disguised as Native Americans, boarded British tea ships and dumped more than 300 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor as a protest against British tea taxes.
- December 16th is National Chocolate-covered Anything Day in the United States. This bizarre holiday encourages people to celebrate by dipping or drizzling their favorite foods in delicious chocolate.
- In 2013, Uruguay became the first country to legalize the production, sale, and consumption of marijuana. This law aimed to combat drug trafficking by regulating the market.
- Walt Disney's famed "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" premiered on this day in 1937. This film, produced by Walt Disney Productions, was the first full-length animated feature film and the first to use Technicolor.
- On December 16, 1960, two planes collided in mid-air over New York City, killing 134 people. This tragedy stands as the deadliest aviation accident in the United States until 1963.
- The 2021 Transit of Venus, a rare astronomical event, took place on December 16. During this event, Venus, Earth, and the Sun were aligned, allowing people to see Venus pass directly in front of the Sun.
- December 16 marks the start of the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. This week-long celebration was in honor of the god Saturn and involved feasting, gift-giving, and role-reversal between masters and slaves.
- On December 16, 1901, Italian inventor and electrical engineer Guglielmo Marconi succeeded in transmitting the first wireless signals across the Atlantic Ocean. His achievement paved the way for the development of modern radio communication.
- In 1965, the United States launched Pioneer 6, the first probe of the NASA Pioneer program, on December 16. The spacecraft gathered data about the solar wind, cosmic radiation, and other solar phenomena.
- On December 16, 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law. This legislation is designed to protect and recover imperiled species and their ecosystems.
- On December 16, 1991, Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union. Each year, the country commemorates this occasion with Independence Day, a national holiday celebrated with various events and ceremonies.
- Ludwig van Beethoven, a famous German composer and pianist, was baptized on December 16, 1770. Many historians believe his actual birth date to be December 15, but this remains unconfirmed.
- Australian aviation pioneer Sir Charles Kingsford Smith set a new world record for the fastest flight across Australia on December 16, 1931. His journey between Sydney and Perth took 10 hours and 50 minutes.
- On December 16, 1944, the movie "National Velvet" premiered in the United States. Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, this film tells the story of a young girl training her horse for the Grand National Steeplechase.
- The first recorded powered flight by the Wright Brothers took place on December 16, 1903, in North Carolina. The aircraft, known as the Wright Flyer, was the first heavier-than-air, powered aircraft to achieve sustained flight with a pilot aboard.
- December 16th is Bahrain's National Day. The holiday commemorates the accession of the first ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, as well as the anniversary of the country joining the United Nations in 1971.
- December 16th is a public holiday in Bangladesh called Victory Day. It marks the day in 1971 when the Pakistani army surrendered to the joint forces of India and Bangladesh in their fight for independence.
- American writer Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. Austen's novels, including "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma," are renowned for their wit, social commentary, and insights into the lives of early 19th-century English women.
- December 16th is considered National Day of Listening in the United States. This day encourages people to take the time to record the stories of their friends, family members, and loved ones as a way of preserving their legacies.
- On December 16, 1947, American physicists John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley invented the first transistor at Bell Laboratories. This groundbreaking invention revolutionized the world of electronics and paved the way for the development of modern technology.
- On December 16, 1850, New Zealand's first-ever cricket match took place in Christchurch. The sport eventually became one of the country's most popular and New Zealand's national cricket team is now known as the "Blackcaps."