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32 fun facts for December, 23

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
On December 23, history has seen events like the publishing of "The Night Before Christmas," celebrating Unity Day in New Zealand, and breakthrough medical procedures including human-to-human lung transplantation and the first successful kidney transplantation. This day also marks the release of James Cameron's famous film, "Titanic," and the birth of Hayao Miyazaki, the renowned animator and filmmaker.
32 Fun facts
  1. On December 23, 1823, the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," also known as "The Night Before Christmas," was published anonymously for the first time in the Troy Sentinel newspaper in upstate New York. It has since become a classic Christmas tale.
  2. The 1997 film, "Titanic," directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, was released on December 23, 1997. The epic romantic disaster film became the highest-grossing film of all time (until Avatar broke the record in 2009).
  3. December 23, 1913, is the day President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act, establishing the Federal Reserve System in the United States. This banking system remains the country's central banking system to this day.
  4. "Festivus," a parody secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to the commercialism of Christmas, was introduced to the world in the 1997 Seinfeld episode, "The Strike." It has since become a popular countercultural celebration.
  5. The first ever commercial transistor production was announced by Bell Laboratories on December 23, 1947. The invention of the transistor marked a turning point in the field of electronics, paving the way for modern computers, smartphones, and countless other devices.
  6. On December 23, 1783, George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, marking the end of Washington's military service in the American Revolutionary War.
  7. In New Zealand, December 23rd is Unity Day, a day to celebrate unity in diversity. This public holiday commemorates the formation of the United Tribes of New Zealand, which predated the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
  8. Emperor Antoku, the 81st Emperor of Japan, was born on December 23, 1178. He ascended to the throne when he was just 2 years old and was known to have a turbulent and tragic reign.
  9. On December 23, 1970, the first ever NFL regular season game on a Monday night was played. The game featured the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings, and the Lions emerged victorious with a score of 20-9.
  10. December 23rd is National Pfeffernüsse Day in the United States. Pfeffernüsse are traditional German cookies that are popular during the Christmas season.
  11. December 23rd is also National Roots Day in the United States, a day to celebrate family history and genealogy. Many people use this day to explore their ancestry and connect with relatives.
  12. In 1938, a living coelacanth, a fish thought to be extinct for 65 million years, was captured off the coast of South Africa. The discovery, made on December 23, reignited interest in the coelacanth and was an important moment in the field of marine biology.
  13. December 23, 1990, marked the first successful human-to-human lung transplantation. This breakthrough surgery took place in Toronto, Canada, with Dr. Joel Cooper leading the procedure.
  14. On December 23, 1986, the experimental aircraft, Voyager, completed the first nonstop flight around the world without refueling. The trip took 9 days and covered approximately 25,000 miles.
  15. Fiji gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined the United Nations on December 23, 1970.
  16. Settled in 1819, Lafayette is the fourth-largest city in Indiana and is named for the famous French Revolutionary War general, Marquis de Lafayette. It was on December 23, 1825, that he visited the town and its eponymous county.
  17. The International Human Solidarity Day is observed annually on December 23rd. This United Nations-designated day aims at raising public awareness on the importance of solidarity for global challenges.
  18. In 1972, on December 23, the Pakistan Eastern Command officially surrendered and signed a ceasefire for the Bangladesh Liberation War, which marked the end of the war and the separation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from Pakistan.
  19. On December 23, 1968, the crew of the Apollo 8 mission were the first humans to view the Earth as a whole, providing a new perspective on our planet's beauty and vulnerability.
  20. December 23rd is considered the official birthday of renowned Japanese anime filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli and is best known for his films like "Spirited Away," "My Neighbor Totoro," and "Princess Mononoke."
  21. On December 23, 1805, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was born. Smith was an American religious leader and is best known for translating the Book of Mormon.
  22. On December 23, 1777, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta reported the first-ever observations of self-made electrical discharge from a Leyden jar, an early electric capacitor, electric current storage device.
  23. An explosion occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on December 23, 2000, as the last reactor was permanently shut down. This marked the official closure of the facility, more than 14 years after the infamous Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
  24. On December 23, 1908, French statistician and economist André-Michel Guerry passed away. He had been a leading figure in the development of crime statistics, sociology, and cartography.
  25. December 23, 1841, saw Italian ballet dancer Giorgetti Taglioni perform her final show in Rome, retiring from the stage after a distinguished career as one of Europe's top ballerinas.
  26. Kenneth Womack, an American author and professor specializing in popular music and culture, was born on December 23, 1966. His work contains many titles including the Beatles Encyclopedia and Beatles-related books.
  27. On December 23, 1914, Germany's Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) laid the first mines in the North Sea as part of a plan to establish a blockade on the British Isles during World War I.
  28. Ford produced the last Model T automobiles on December 23, 1927, ceasing production of the popular car that had been in production since 1908.
  29. On December 23, 1933, the first NFL playoff game was held between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants. The Bears won with a score of 23-21.
  30. The Catholic Church celebrates St. John Cantius, a Polish priest, and theologian, on his feast day, December 23rd. Born in modern-day Poland, he was known for his exceptional erudition and piety.
  31. December 23, 1954, marks the anniversary of the first successful living-related kidney transplantation. This groundbreaking surgery was performed on identical twins at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston by Dr. Joseph E. Murray and Dr. David Hume.
  32. On December 23, 1606, the iconic Dutch painter Rembrandt married his first wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh. Their marriage led to a period of creative and artistic growth for Rembrandt, during which he produced some of his most celebrated works.

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