child labor

On This Day - December 2nd

By now, we fully expect that you’ve got the advent calendars out, and are counting down the days to your favourite time of year! But, before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s take a moment to appreciate all that every day of December brings. For example, here are some of the most interesting things about December 2nd.

On this day

facts about Napoleon

Napoleon became Emperor.

In 1804, General Napoleon Bonaparte was ceremoniously crowned Emperor of the French. The ceremony took place at the Notre Dame de Paris and was officiated by Pope Pius VII. Bonaparte would go on to be one of the most iconic figures in French military history – though he would eventually face exile.

franz joseph I

Franz Joseph I became Emperor, too!

In 1848, Franz Joseph I became Emperor of Austria. At the same time, he also became King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia. That’s a lot of ground to take care of at once!

peking man skull

The First Skull of Peking Man was found.

In 1929, an ancient skull was found in the Zhoukoudian caves, roughly 50 km outside of Peking, China. Later, it was dated to be about 750,000 years old! We probably wouldn’t be here without Peking Man.

chicago pile-1

The World's first-ever nuclear chain reaction took place.

In 1942, the world's first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction occurred in Chicago Pile-1 at the University of Chicago. The experiment was overseen by Enrico Fermi.

portrait of Fidel Castro

Castro became President – and was in power for a long time!

In 1976, Communist revolutionary, Fidel Castro, became President of Cuba. He replaced Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado. Castro would eventually retire from the Presidency in 2008 – he oversaw the country across four different decades!

Special Days Falling on December 2nd

No one wants to have to wait all the way til the holidays to start celebrating! On the bright side, you can start marking an occasion or two right now with these holidays around the world today.
Facts of New Delhi

Asom Divas

Every December 2nd is Asom Divas for the people of the Indian State of Assam. It is a public holiday there to commemorate the arrival of the founder and very first King of the Ahom in the territory of ancient Assam. The day is also known by several other names, including Asom Day and Sukapha Divas.

child labor

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

For people all over the world, December 2nd is always International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. On this very day back in 1949, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. Modern slavery is still very much a burning issue, with millions of people impacted every single day.

Today, we raise awareness of child labor, human trafficking, forced marriage and sexual exploitation – in the hope that, some day, everyone can truly be free.

Flag of Laos

Lao National Dayc

On a happier note, December 2nd is also Lao National Day! The holiday takes place in the Southeast Asian country of Laos, and marks the end of the monarchy’s rule and the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975. Seems there’s always an independence day somewhere in the world, whenever you look!

Like our content? Like us on Facebook and never miss out!

This page was last modified on August 24, 2024. Suggest an edit

This month in history

In December 1993, the Vatican and Israel agreed to mutually sign an end to 2,000 years of conflict between Jewish and Christian people.

Famous Birthdays on December 2nd

Deacon White, American baseball player, born 1847

Maria Callas, Greek-American opera singer, born 1923

Gianni Versace, Italian fashion designer, born 1946

Lucy Liu, American actor, born 1968

Britney Spears, American musician, born 1981

interesting facts about Sagittarius

If you were born on December 2nd

 

…you’re a Sagittarius! You’re a very independent person, and as friendly as you are, you are also known for being a bit careless at times. That being said, you are also optimistic, and, with the right people, you can also be pretty forgiving. So, why shouldn’t we forgive you a bit of carelessness?

 

There’s tons more to know about the centaur sign, so if you’re new to the Western Zodiac, learn more about Sagittarius from our Sagittarius facts page! You never know what you might learn about yourself…

Latest Facts