By December 3rd, holiday music is usually thumping out everywhere, town lights are all up, and people tend to feel a bit jollier! But, December isn’t all about holiday cheer. Here are some of the most important things to have taken place on this December day, December 3rd.
On this day
1Gas leaked at Bhopal.
In the early hours of 3 December 1984, a toxic gas leaked from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. Thousands of people died within days and many more in the years after, making it the world’s worst industrial disaster.
2The Eureka Stockade.
On 3 December 1854, soldiers and police attacked a stockade built by gold miners at Ballarat, Victoria, who were protesting against costly mining licences. Around 22 miners and 6 soldiers were killed. The rebellion is often seen as a turning point for democracy in Australia.
3The first human heart transplant took place.
On 3 December 1967, the South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard performed the first human-to-human heart transplant, at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. The patient, Louis Washkansky, lived for 18 days.
4Bush and Gorbachev declared the Cold War over.
On 3 December 1989, at a summit in Malta, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US President George H. W. Bush signalled the end of the Cold War, weeks after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
5The first text message was sent.
On 3 December 1992, engineer Neil Papworth sent the first SMS text message, ‘Merry Christmas’, from a computer to the phone of a Vodafone director in Britain.
Special Days Falling on December 3rd
This December 3rd, take a step away from all the standard festivals you’re used to, and focus on some of the biggest events you may have never heard of taking place around the world today!
Day of Navarre
December 3rd is extremely important for certain people of Spain – the Day of Navarre remembers the passing of St. Francis Xavier. Celebrated only in Navarre, it’s a public holiday that sees businesses and organizations close, and all kinds of parades take place across the region.
Feast of St Francis Xavier
Every 3 December, Catholics mark the feast of St Francis Xavier, the Spanish Jesuit missionary who worked in India, south-east Asia and Japan. His body lies in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Every December 3rd is also International Day of Persons with Disabilities! The day is meant to encourage people to focus on the challenges faced by people living with disabilities every single day. It is a day dedicated to people with both mental and physical disabilities and encourages us all to work harder to ensure that all people in the world have access to equal opportunities.
This month in history
In 1947, King Michael of Romania was forced to abdicate after the Communists seized power. The country would technically remain a socialist republic until 1989.
Famous Birthdays on December 3rd
- Nicolo Amati, Italian violin maker, born 1596
- Andy Williams, American crooner, born 1927
- Ozzy Osbourne, English rockstar, born 1948
- Daryl Hannah, American actor, born 1960
- Brendan Fraser, American actor, born 1968
If you were born on December 3rd
…you’re a Sagittarius! You’re smart, funny, friendly, and adventurous. And, boy, do you love to talk about it! You can be a bit boastful, but, to be fair, look at you. We’d boast too in your shoes.
However, we really can’t do you much justice in this tiny paragraph. It’s a good job, then, that we have stacks of facts about what makes you tick.
Learn more about Sagittarius from our Sagittarius facts page!
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