It’s December 12th, which means that there are less than two weeks away from Christmas, and other December holidays are already well underway! We can practically hear the holiday panic through the screen! But, for now, sit back, relax, and focus on today alone, and all that December 12th brings.
On this day
1The Battle at Nineveh took place.
In 627 AD, the Battle at Nineveh took place. Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeated the Sassanid forces during the Byzantine-Sassanid War – a brutal but important event that’s certainly worth learning more about.
2Pennsylvania ratified the US Constitution.
While the Constitution is a document all American citizens are well aware of today, it took some time to draft and ratify into law! In fact, on this day back in 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to agree to its ratification.
3Marconi received the first transatlantic radio signal.
On 12 December 1901, Guglielmo Marconi, at Signal Hill in St John’s, Newfoundland, heard the Morse code letter ‘S’, sent across the Atlantic from Poldhu in Cornwall.
4Bush v. Gore came to an end.
In 2000, the US Supreme Court released its decision in the Bush v. Gore case. Their decision settled the recount dispute in Florida’s 2000 presidential election in George W. Bush’s favor. In doing so, they handed him the United States of America presidency.
5COP21 came to a decision.
In 2015, the COP21 climate change summit in Paris reached a deal between 195 countries. The agreement was to limit the steady rise in the global average temperature to less than 2°C above what are termed pre-industrial levels.
Special Days Falling on December 12th
Halfway to Christmas Eve and we know you could probably do with a break from all the fuss! So, here are some other important events taking place around the world today to help!
Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
The day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated every December 12th. The day honors the day when Virgin Mary made an appearance to a young man back in 1531. It is a national holiday with masses and feasts all over the country, and people from all parts of Mexico make their way to Mexico’s religious center at the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, located in Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Jamhuri Day
Every 12 December, Kenya celebrates Jamhuri Day. Kenya became independent from Britain on 12 December 1963 and became a republic exactly a year later. ‘Jamhuri’ is Swahili for ‘republic’.
International Day of Neutrality
On December 12th, the United Nations encourages us to focus on advocating and campaigning for mutually beneficial and friendly relations between countries. With conflict still rife between so many international powers, it’s a good occasion to step back and consider how we could all take time to understand each other’s motivations.
This month in history
In 1832, John C. Calhoun became the first American ever to resign from the office of vice president. He served under two different presidents, Presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. He eventually resigned after a series of political disagreements with President Jackson. However, he went on to become a Senator from South Carolina.
Famous Birthdays on December 12th
- Edvard Munch, Norwegian painter and printmaker, born 1863
- Alfred Werner, Swiss chemist, born 1866
- Frank Sinatra, “Old Blue Eyes,” born 1915
- Dionne Warwick, legendary American musician, born 1940
- Bill Nighy, English actor, born 1949
If you were born on December 12th
…you’re a Sagittarius! You’re a naturally curious and intelligent person. It doesn’t take long for you to get a grasp on anything, which often means you’re the smartest person in the room. And, you definitely believe you are!
But, you can always learn more from our Sagittarius facts page – especially if you’re new to the idea of star signs and want to see what the Zodiac has to say about your personality and habits!
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