Exploring December 21st: Culture, Legend, and Loss
“We could see the glow…We knew there was a very serious incident there.” — David Jardine, 19 year old, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service…
“We could see the glow…We knew there was a very serious incident there.” — David Jardine, 19 year old, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responding to the crash scene of the Pan Am Flight 103.
December 21st is a momentous day in history, with over two thousand years of events. This day has seen the birth and death of important figures across various fields, including politics, literature, and sports.
It has also seen significant cultural events, such as the release of a classic animated film and important international conventions, being adopted. Overall, December 21st is a day that has had a lasting impact on the world and continues to be remembered and celebrated in various ways.
Additionally, December 21st is a day that has seen both triumph and tragedy. It is the day that Phileas Fogg, a fictional character created by French writer Jules Verne, successfully completed his journey around the world and won a wager with his friends. However, it is also the day that saw the death of several notable individuals, including American author F. Scott Fitzgerald and English archbishop Thomas Becket.
Overall, December 21st is a day that has played host to a wide range of important events and figures throughout history. From cultural milestones and international conventions to births and deaths, this day has left its mark on the world and continues to be remembered and celebrated today.
As we will see in this list of events on December 21st, this day has been marked by various significant historical occurrences. From the martyrdom of Thomas the Apostle in 72 to the birth of Philip Humber in 1982, this day has seen various events that have shaped the world in various ways. These events include the release of the first full-length animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1937 and the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1965.
Moreover, December 21st has been a day that has seen both triumph and tragedy. The fictional character Phileas Fogg won a wager by successfully traveling around the world in 1872, while the Pan Am Flight 103 Lockerbie Bombing in 1988 resulted in the deaths of all 259 passengers on board a plane and 11 people on the ground.
Overall, December 21st is a day that has played a significant role in history and continues to be remembered and celebrated for the events and figures that have shaped the world on this day.
December 21 Events in History
72: Thomas the Apostle was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is considered an important figure in the early history of Christianity. He is believed to have been martyred in India in 72.
1118: Thomas Becket was an English archbishop and saint who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is known for his conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church, and his death has been memorialized in various works of literature and art. Becket was born in 1118.
1804: Benjamin Disraeli was a British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice in the mid-19th century. He was a prominent figure in the Conservative Party and is credited with creating the modern Conservative Party. Disraeli was born in 1804.
1840: Frank Zappa was an American singer-songwriter, composer, and musician known for his unconventional and often controversial style. He was a prolific artist and released over 60 albums during his career. Zappa was born in 1840.
1872: Around the World in Eighty Days is a novel by Jules Verne published in 1872. The story follows the adventures of Phileas Fogg, a wealthy English gentleman, as he attempts to travel around the world in 80 days to win a bet. The novel is considered a science fiction classic and has been adapted into numerous stage and film adaptations.
1935: Kurt Tucholsky was a German journalist, writer, and satirist who was a prominent figure in the Weimar Republic. He was known for his sharp wit and political commentary, and his work often addressed issues of democracy and freedom of speech. Tucholsky died in 1935.
1937: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a classic animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released in 1937. It was the first full-length animated feature film ever made and is based on the German fairy tale of the same name by the Brothers Grimm. The film has been widely hailed as a masterpiece and has inspired numerous retellings and adaptations.
1940: F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American author and novelist known for his works of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself to describe the decadence and excess of the 1920s. His most famous novel, The Great Gatsby, is a masterpiece of 20th-century literature and has been adapted into numerous films and stage productions. Fitzgerald passed away in 1940.
1942 — Franz Boas, a German anthropologist, dies. Boas is considered the father of American anthropology and is known for his contributions to the field, including the development of the concept of cultural relativism, which holds that cultural practices and beliefs should be understood within the context of the culture in which they exist.
1945: George S. Patton served in World War II. as an American general. He was a controversial figure known for his aggressive leadership style and outspoken personality. Patton died in 1945.
1963: Jack Hobbs was an English cricketer who played for the England national team and is considered one of the greatest batters in the history of the sport. He scored over 61,000 runs in his career and set numerous records. Hobbs passed away in 1963.
1965: The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is a human rights treaty adopted by the United Nations in 1965. The treaty aims to eliminate racial discrimination and promote understanding and tolerance among different racial groups. The majority of UN member states have ratified it.
1988: The Lockerbie Bombing occurred in 1988 when a bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103, a passenger plane flying from Frankfurt, Germany, to Detroit, United States. The explosion occurred over the Scottish town of Lockerbie and killed all 259 people on board the plane as well as 11 people on the ground. The attack was later found to have been perpetrated by Libyan intelligence agents.
1995: In 1995, Israeli troops withdrew from the city of Bethlehem as part of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, a peace treaty signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Bethlehem had previously been under Israeli control since the Six-Day War in 1967.
1966: Kiefer Sutherland is an English/Canadian actor, director, and producer best known for his roles in films such as The Lost Boys and TV shows like 24. He was born in 1966
1982: Philip Humber is an American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher. He was born in 1982.
As we have seen, December 21st is a day that has played host to a wide range of significant events and figures throughout history. From the triumph of Phileas Fogg winning his wager to the tragedy of the Lockerbie Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing, this day has left its mark on the world in various ways. It is a day that has seen cultural milestones, such as the release of the first full-length animated feature film and important international conventions being adopted.
But December 21st is just one day in the annals of history, and countless other days have had a similarly impactful and fascinating series of events. From world-changing wars and revolutions to the birth and death of legendary figures, every day in history has its unique story. We invite you to come back and explore the rich diversity of human history with us as we continue to delve into the stories of the past and discover how they have shaped the world we live in today.
As the famous American author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, once said, “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” December 21st is a day that exemplifies this idea, as it has seen both triumph and tragedy, cultural milestones and international conventions, and the birth and death of notable figures. It is a day that reminds us of the complexities and contradictions of the world and the human experience. So let us continue to explore the rich history of this day and all the other days that have shaped our world and embrace the complexity and diversity of human experience.