It can’t already be December 15th, surely! How the month is flying by! So, let’s make time slow down a little and focus on the day today, rather than upcoming events! Here are some of the most interesting things to know about December 15th.
On this day
1Belisarius defeated the Vandals.
On 15 December 533, the Byzantine general Belisarius defeated the Vandal army of King Gelimer at the Battle of Tricamarum in North Africa, ending the Vandal kingdom.
2Bartolomeu Dias returned home
In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias returned to Portugal. In so doing, he became the first European we know of to sail around the Cape of Good Hope – and went down in the history books as one of the most famous explorers of all time! Columbus who?
3Simon Marius looked at Andromeda through a telescope.
On 15 December 1612, the German astronomer Simon Marius became the first person known to observe the Andromeda galaxy through a telescope. It is visible to the naked eye on dark nights, and the Persian astronomer al-Sufi had described it in 964.
4Napoleon was given a funeral
In 1840, Napoleon Bonaparte was given a French state funeral in Paris 19 years after his death. He had originally been exiled and died away from his home, ending his reign – a fascinating life and military career that ultimately ended with him living away from the country he loved and led.
5Homosexuality was no longer seen as an illness
In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) declared homosexuality is not a mental illness. However, in many countries around the world, it is still seen as an illegal offense. While it’s popular to say we live in enlightened times, there’s still a lot of work left to do.
Special Days Falling on December 15th
December 15th generally means one thing – there are only ten days til Christmas. But, don’t worry, you have plenty of time left! Try to think of something else to take your mind off it. For example, consider all of the other events taking place today.
Bill of Rights Day
The Bill of Rights Day takes place every December 15th in the US – and the reason might be pretty obvious if you’re an American citizen! The day celebrates America’s Constitution and the ratification of the first ten amendments made – because, believe it or not, it wasn’t a perfect document from the get-go! Nowadays, The Bill of Rights is displayed in The Rotunda of the National Archives Building over in Washington, DC, as a reminder to all Americans of their constitutional freedoms.
International Tea Day
15 December has been marked as International Tea Day in tea-producing countries since 2005. The United Nations has an official International Tea Day on 21 May.
National Wear Your Pearls Day
National Wear Your Pearls Day doesn’t just refer to physical pearls! Started by author DeAnna Bookert, this occasion recognizes the challenges and strife we all go through each and every day – and to remember that we are all valuable and beautiful, like pearls. If you’d like to wear pearls today to celebrate, go right ahead!
This month in history
Back in December 1927, Josef Stalin officially seized power over then-Soviet Russia, or the USSR. He effectively expelled Leon Trotsky, a comrade of the late Vladimir Lenin, who was Stalin’s closest leadership rival in the Communist Party.
Famous Birthdays on December 15th
- Nero, Emperor of Rome, born 37 AD
- Edward Coles, American anti-slavery advocate and politician, born 1786
- Gustave Eiffel, French engineer and architect, born 1832
- J. Paul Getty, American oil industrialist, born 1892
- Michelle Dockery, English actor, born 1981
If you were born on December 15th
…you’re a Sagittarius! You’re smart, driven, and kind. However, you can be a bit too blunt when you lose your cool, so try to keep calm! A great way of keeping calm is by learning more from our Sagittarius facts page!
There, we’ve included all kinds of fascinating tidbits about what makes you tick. You never know, you might learn something surprising – in a good way, we hope!
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