December 29th may seem like just another day in the office, or waiting for New Year’s to come, but it is definitely not a date to be left behind! Here are some of the most interesting things about December 29th.
On this day
1The Treaty of New Echota was signed.
On 29 December 1835, a small group of Cherokee, without the approval of the tribe’s leaders, signed the Treaty of New Echota, giving up Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi. It led to the forced removal known as the Trail of Tears.
2Thomas Becket was murdered.
On 29 December 1170, four knights loyal to Henry II killed Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in his own cathedral. He was made a saint three years later, and his shrine became one of Europe’s great pilgrimage sites.
3China gained its first president
In 1911, Sun Yat-sen was elected President of the Republic of China. He was the country’s first ever president, after centuries of traditional empirical rule.
4Hong Kong began a mass chicken cull.
On 29 December 1997, Hong Kong began slaughtering its entire chicken population, around 1.3 million birds, to stop an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu that had killed several people.
5The Second Great Fire of London.
On the night of 29 December 1940, German bombers set off huge fires in the City of London. St Paul’s Cathedral survived, and a photograph of its dome rising through the smoke became one of the most famous images of the war.
Special Days Falling on December 29th
This December 29th, take the time to consider others in the world, and what today means to them. For example, here are some of the most important events taking place around the world today.
Constitution of Ireland
On 29 December 1937, the Constitution of Ireland came into force, replacing the Irish Free State with the state now called Ireland. It is not a public holiday.
Mongolia Independence Day
On 29 December 1911, Mongolia declared independence from Qing China, after two centuries of rule. The day is a national holiday.
International Cello Day
All cellists celebrate International Cello Day every December 29th. The cello is a wonderful bowed string musical instrument with four strings. Although it looks like a large violin, it has a unique sound that can only be achieved by the best cellists in the world! And, today we celebrate them and their instruments!
This month in history
Panama took control of the canal. On 31 December 1999, the United States handed over the Panama Canal to Panama, under treaties signed in 1977.
Famous Birthdays on December 29th
- Elizabeth of Russia, Empress of Russia, and daughter of Peter the Great, born 1709
- Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America, born 1808
- Mary Tyler Moore, American actor, born 1936
- Ted Danson, American actor, born 1947
- Jude Law, English actor, born 1972
If you were born on December 29th
…you’re a Capricorn! You’re very intelligent, and creative. You like to think outside of the box, although you are also very organized, so however you leave the box, it will be tidy! People tend to enjoy Capricorns’ company because they’re very grounded. They like to plan ahead, and when dealing with flightier people, they help groups to look at the bigger picture without drama. Is it any wonder people like having you around?
Head over to our Capricorn facts page to learn more – and start preparing for a new year of horoscopes ahead.
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