26 fun facts for December, 22

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 22nd has a rich history filled with significant events, from Beethoven's marathon concert in 1808 to the first successful test flight of the SR-71 Blackbird in 1964. Celebrations include India's National Mathematics Day, National Date Nut Bread Day in the United States, and Sweden's National Tomato Day.
26 Fun facts
  1. On December 22, 1807, the US Embargo Act was signed into law by President Thomas Jefferson. The act aimed to force Great Britain and France to respect American neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars.
  2. In 1808, Ludwig van Beethoven conducted and performed his Symphony No. 5 and No. 6, as well as his Piano Concerto No. 4 and Choral Fantasy during a marathon concert in Vienna.
  3. On December 22, 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom.
  4. December 22, 1864, Confederate General Sherman sent a message to President Abraham Lincoln informing him that he had captured the city of Savannah, Georgia during the American Civil War. This gift was known as the "Christmas gift."
  5. In 1891, the Asteroid called "323 Brucia" was the first to be discovered by means of photography.
  6. On December 22, 1894, the Dreyfus Affair in France began. It was a notorious case of anti-Semitism and military secrecy, which led to lasting changes in French society and politics.
  7. In 1937, the Lincoln Tunnel linking New York City to New Jersey was first opened to vehicular traffic.
  8. On December 22, 1941, over 200 Japanese planes bombed Rangoon in British Burma, marking the beginning of the Japanese invasion during World War II (avoiding the battles).
  9. December 22, 1956, the famous gorilla named Colo was born at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. She became the first gorilla born in captivity and lived a long life of 60 years.
  10. On this day in 1964, the first successful test flight of the SR-71 Blackbird took place. The iconic aircraft would go on to break world records in both speed and altitude.
  11. In 1968, Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, was launched. It was the first time humans left low Earth orbit and orbited another celestial body.
  12. December 22 is celebrated as National Mathematics Day in India in honor of Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, who was born on this day in 1887.
  13. On December 22, 1984, subways in New York City were filled with fear when Bernhard Goetz, aka "the Subway Vigilante," shot four men in a train after an attempted mugging.
  14. In 1989, Romanian citizens initiated the revolution that would end the communist regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu in Romania.
  15. On December 22, 1990, Lech Walesa was sworn in as Poland's first popularly elected president, marking an important step in the country's transition to democracy.
  16. In 1999, the Spanish Guardia Civil stopped a van filled with 950 kg of explosives, thus preventing a terrorist attack planned by the Basque separatist group, ETA.
  17. December 22 is the feast day of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, an Italian-American nun who became the first naturalized U.S. citizen to be canonized as a saint.
  18. On this day in 2001, Richard Reid made an unsuccessful attempt to set off a shoe bomb on American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami.
  19. December 22, 2008, saw the release of the final tabletop adventure for the third edition of the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.
  20. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, a discriminatory policy that prevented homosexual individuals from openly serving in the US military.
  21. On December 22, 2012, the world did not end despite numerous predictions and widespread public fears tied to the conclusion of the ancient Mayan calendar.
  22. In 2015, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully landed upright after launching satellites into orbit, marking a significant achievement in reusable rocket technology.
  23. December 22 is National Date Nut Bread Day in the United States, celebrating the delicious and nutritious combination of dates and nuts in a tasty loaf.
  24. In Sweden, December 22 is National Tomato Day or Tomatens Dag, which celebrates the nutritional benefits and delicious taste of tomatoes.
  25. On December 22, 2015, a rare full moon appeared on the same night as the winter solstice, an event that had not occurred since 1977 and would not happen again until 2094.
  26. December 22 is sometimes celebrated as National Short Girl Appreciation Day in the United States, recognizing and appreciating the unique qualities of shorter women.

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