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33 fun facts for December, 21

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
December 21 is a day full of historic events and celebrations, including National Hamburger Day in Ireland and the Winter Solstice. Birthdays of notable figures like Jane Fonda and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as significant achievements in science, technology, and culture, make this day truly unique.
33 Fun facts
  1. National Hamburger Day (Ireland): December 21 is celebrated as National Hamburger Day in Ireland, where people enjoy their favorite burger variations from classic beef to mouthwatering veggie patties, all in honor of this popular dish.
  2. December 21 is often the Winter Solstice, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the start of astronomical winter.
  3. Jane Fonda was born on December 21, 1937. Fonda is a renowned American actress, political activist, and fitness enthusiast, known for her workout videos and role in the film "Barbarella."
  4. Philosopher Thomas Paine published his pamphlet "American Crisis" on December 21, 1776. It inspired and supported the struggling Americans during the American Revolution.
  5. December 21, 1846, marked the beginning of the Donner Party's rescue. The first group of settlers were stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the winter and were finally reached by rescuers on this date.
  6. The Apollo 8 mission, the first manned mission to the Moon, was launched on December 21, 1968. Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders were the first humans to orbit the Moon and witness the Earthrise.
  7. Samuel L. Jackson was born December 21, 1948. He's an acclaimed actor known for his roles in films like "Pulp Fiction," "The Avengers," and the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy.
  8. The 1988 disaster film "The Abyss" premiered on December 21. Directed by James Cameron, it tells the story of a team of underwater engineers trying to save the world from destruction.
  9. Kiefer Sutherland was born on December 21, 1966. He is the son of famous actor Donald Sutherland and is best known for his role as Jack Bauer in the hit television show "24."
  10. On December 21, 1620, the Mayflower Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, marking the beginning of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts.
  11. The first official game of basketball was played on December 21, 1891. Dr. James Naismith organized the match in Springfield, Massachusetts.
  12. December 21 is National Limerick Day in the United States, a day to celebrate Irish literature and share limericks - a form of humorous poetry with five lines.
  13. The Simpsons first premiered as a standalone show on December 17, 1989, and December 21 is observed as Simpsons Day to celebrate its success and impact on modern culture.
  14. On December 21, 1937, Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered, becoming the first full-length animated feature film in history.
  15. Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega was overthrown on December 21, 1989, by a U.S. military invasion during Operation Just Cause.
  16. In 1940, American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald passed away on December 21. He is best known for his iconic work "The Great Gatsby."
  17. December 21 is World Peace Day, a day dedicated to promoting peace and goodwill between nations.
  18. Albert Einstein's Nobel Prize-winning "Theory of the Photoelectric Effect" was published on December 21, 1905.
  19. On December 21, 1965, the Grateful Dead performed their first concert under their famous name at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.
  20. The Transistor, a key component in modern electronic devices, was invented on December 21, 1947. It led to the development of integrated circuits and microprocessors.
  21. On December 21, 2008, the Zimbabwean government declared a national emergency due to the nation's worsening cholera outbreak.
  22. The city of Honolulu, Hawaii, was officially incorporated on December 21, 1909.
  23. December 21, 1898, French scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element radium.
  24. In 1932, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) developed the world's first regular television service on December 21.
  25. Crossword Puzzle Day falls on December 21, commemorating the first crossword puzzle published in the New York World newspaper in 1913.
  26. On December 21, 1935, Chinese writer and linguist Lu Xun passed away. He is considered a leading figure of modern Chinese literature.
  27. In 1946, the United Nations General Assembly met for the first time on December 21 in London, England.
  28. The Italian Parliament approved the Monti Bill on December 21, 2011, which led to economic and financial reforms in response to the European debt crisis.
  29. The film production company United Artists was founded by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith on December 21, 1919.
  30. December 21 is Look on the Bright Side Day, a day dedicated to finding joy and positivity in life's challenges.
  31. Ray Romano, the comedian and actor best known for his role in the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond," was born on December 21, 1957.
  32. Elvis Presley's fifth film, "Flaming Star," premiered on December 21, 1960.
  33. The Voyager 2 space probe made its closest approach to Neptune on December 21, 1989, gathering images and data that helped scientists study the distant planet.

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