104 things happened on 21 December, from AD 69 to 2022. UK stories come first, then the rest of the world.
1937 · 89 years ago
Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs had its premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. It was the first full-length film made with cel animation, in which pictures are drawn or painted on clear sheets called cels. The musical is based on…
UK history first: stories from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UK story
A group called the Rochdale Pioneers opened their shop in Rochdale, England. It was a co-operative, a business owned by the people who use it. The shop was one of the first to share its profits with members, depending on how much each member had bought. The Pioneers' rules, known as the Rochdale Principles, still guide co-operatives around the world.
UK story
HMS Challenger left Portsmouth, England, on a scientific voyage around the world that lasted until 1876. Scientists on board measured the depth of the sea, sampled the ocean floor and collected sea creatures. They catalogued over 4,000 species that were new to science. Their work laid the foundations of oceanography, the study of the oceans.
UK story
Nepal and the United Kingdom signed a treaty at Singha Durbar in Nepal. It was the first formal agreement in which Britain accepted that Nepal was an independent nation. This meant Nepal had the right to deal with other countries in any way it chose. The treaty was later recorded by the League of Nations, an international organisation for keeping peace.
UK story
Lancaster House Agreement: An independence agreement for Rhodesia is signed in London by Lord Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and S.C. Mundawarara.
UK story
Operatives of the British Special Boat Service boarded the container ship Grande Tema in the Thames Estuary to detain four stowaways who had threatened the crew.
The Pilgrims, English settlers who had crossed the Atlantic on the ship Mayflower, landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. There they set up the Plymouth Colony. Their leaders belonged to religious groups that had escaped persecution in England by moving to Holland. The new settlement shared its name with Plymouth in Devon, the last port they sailed from.
Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs had its premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. It was the first full-length film made with cel animation, in which pictures are drawn or painted on clear sheets called cels. The musical is based on a German fairy tale written down by the Brothers Grimm. It was also the first animated feature film made in the United States.
The United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Countries that join it promise to end racial discrimination, which means treating people unfairly because of their race. They also agree to encourage understanding between people of all races. The United Nations was set up in 1945 to keep peace and help countries work together.
Apollo 8 launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on its way to the Moon. Its astronauts, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders, became the first humans to reach the Moon and circle it. They were the first people to see the far side of the Moon. They also photographed Earth rising above the Moon's horizon.
The Antonov An-225 Mriya, a huge cargo aircraft built in the Soviet Union, flew for the first time. Mriya means 'dream' in Ukrainian. It was designed to carry the Buran spacecraft, and it became the heaviest aircraft ever built. Only one was ever finished, and it went on to carry enormous loads such as wind turbine blades and even railway engines.
The Popocatépetl volcano in central Mexico began erupting after 47 quiet years. Since then it has become one of the most active volcanoes in the country. At 5,393 metres high, it is Mexico's second-highest mountain. It is a stratovolcano, a tall, cone-shaped volcano built up from many layers of lava and ash.
Jupiter and Saturn appeared extremely close together in the night sky, just 0.1 degrees apart. When these two planets look closest together, it is called a great conjunction. This happens about every 20 years, when Jupiter 'overtakes' Saturn as they travel around the Sun. The two giant planets had not looked this close since 1623.
The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors.
Lamberto Scannabecchi was elected pope, taking the name Honorius II.
After a siege of several weeks, the city of Weinsberg and its castle surrender to Conrad III of Germany.
The Battle of Linuesa is fought in the context of the Spanish Reconquista between the forces of the Emirate of Granada and the combined army of the Kingdom of Castile and of Jaén resulting in a Castilian victory.
Battle of Curalaba: The revolting Mapuche, led by cacique Pelentaru, inflict a major defeat on Spanish troops in southern Chile.
Settlers from the United States in Mexican Texas made the first attempt to secede from Mexico, establishing the short-lived Republic of Fredonia.
Egyptian–Ottoman War: Egyptian forces decisively defeat Ottoman troops at the Battle of Konya.
Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
the fictional character of Nora Helmer is first portrayed by Betty Hennings (pictured) at a showing of A Doll's House at the Royal Danish Theatre.
The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army, are formed.
Moscow's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was consecrated.
Lieutenant Kijé, the first film composition by Sergei Prokofiev (pictured), premiered.
World War II: A Thai-Japanese Pact of Alliance is signed.
The Geneva Conference on the Arab–Israeli conflict opens.
Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The leaders of 11 now effectively autonomous Soviet republics sign the Alma-Ata Protocol establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States in place of the collapsing Soviet Union.
In accordance with the Oslo II Accord, Israeli troops withdrew from Bethlehem in preparation for the transfer of control to the Palestinian National Authority.
Countries that were part of the Maya civilization celebrated the end-date of a 5,126-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar.
A Vega C rocket carrying two Pléiades Neo satellites fails after liftoff.
Every answer is somewhere on this page. Have a go, then check!
In which year did this happen: “The Rochdale Pioneers open their co-operative shop”?
C: 1844. 1844 — that’s 182 years ago. Find it on the page
In which year did this happen: “HMS Challenger sets sail to explore the world's oceans”?
A: 1872. 1872 — that’s 154 years ago. Find it on the page
Which of these happened first?
A: The Rochdale Pioneers open their co-operative shop. 1844: The Rochdale Pioneers open their co-operative shop · 1872: HMS Challenger sets sail to explore the world's oceans · 1923: Britain recognises Nepal as an independent country Find it on the page
“Britain recognises Nepal as an independent country” happened in 1923. How many years ago was that?
A: 103 years. 2026 − 1923 = 103. Find it on the page
Famous people whose birthday is 21 December.
UK story
Benjamin Disraeli was a British politician and writer who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a central role in creating the modern Conservative Party. He is remembered for his long political battles with William Gladstone, the leader of the Liberal Party. Disraeli was later given the title Earl of Beaconsfield.
Well-known people who died on 21 December.
Festivals, holidays and saints’ days celebrated on 21 December somewhere in the world.
Content note: these entries mention things like war, violence, deaths, disasters or crime. They are part of history, but they can be upsetting. Grown-ups and teachers: you may want to read them first. They come straight from Wikipedia and have not been rewritten for children.
Stories with a heading have been written for young readers by A Day in the Past, using the linked articles as sources. Other entries show text from Wikipedia’s “December 21” page and its “On this day” feed, written by Wikipedia contributors and shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence. Each “Read more” link goes to the article an entry is based on. Photos are credited under each picture. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us.