By December 19th, we’re usually all ready to leave the office or school, head home, curl up in a warm blanket with some cocoa, and relax. And, we think you absolutely should! And, to help you relax, we have created a short list of everything that makes December 19th so special!
On this day
1William Pitt took to power
In 1783, William Pitt the Younger became the youngest ever British Prime Minister. He was only 24 at the time – meaning he really did live up to his name! There’s nothing stopping anyone from beating that record – are there any takers out there?
2Constantine I became king (again)
In 1920, King Constantine I was restored as King of the Hellenes. This occurred following the death of his son Alexander I of Greece and a plebiscite. It wasn’t simply a case that he quit the job and wanted another shot at running things!
3The BBC began broadcasting to the world.
On 19 December 1932, the BBC Empire Service, the forerunner of the BBC World Service, began broadcasting on shortwave radio to listeners across the British Empire.
4We got a radio broadcast from space
Speaking of radio, in 1958, we got the first-ever radio broadcast from space! US President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a Christmas message “to all mankind, America’s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere”.
5Britain and China agreed Hong Kong's return.
On 19 December 1984, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, under which Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.
Special Days Falling on December 19th
We know that your attention will likely be on an upcoming or current holiday. But, if you could direct a bit of your attention to some of the other incredibly important events taking place around the world today, you won’t regret it!
Goa Liberation Day
On 19 December 1961, Indian troops took control of Goa, ending about 450 years of Portuguese rule. The anniversary is a holiday in Goa.
National Heroes and Heroines Day
National Heroes and Heroines Day is celebrated on December 19th every year in the island nation of Anguilla. The day encourages people to remember and appreciate all the bravery, loss, and pain of people who have helped the nation. The day also honors the 1967 Anguilla revolution. To commemorate the day, there are memorial services held, as well as parades and music performances.
Look for an Evergreen Day
December 19th is also Look for an Evergreen Day! It is a great day to think about finding a Christmas tree, or to simply look for and appreciate any evergreen in all of its beauty! If you find a good tree – treat it with kindness!
This month in history
A Christmas Carol was published. On 19 December 1843, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol. The first 6,000 copies sold out by Christmas Eve.
Famous Birthdays on December 19th
- John Winthrop, American astronomer, born 1714
- John Taylor, American philosopher, born 1753
- Edith Piaf, French singer, born 1915
- Reggie White, American footballer, born 1961
- Alyssa Milano, American actor and activist, born 1972
If you were born on December 19th
…you’re a Sagittarius! You’re a born traveler. You can quickly get bored with your surroundings and you need the great wide open to explore as much as you can!
Speaking of exploring, head over to our Sagittarius facts page to explore more about yourself – as a centaur, you’re likely to want to be pretty adventurous in knowing more about what makes you tick. Your star sign page says more than this small section ever could – take a look!
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