DayOneToday
Today, around the world
Monday, December 3. What the world marks, and the firsts that happened on this day.
Today, somewhere · from DayOneToday
What the world marks
On this day · from DayOneToday
Firsts, not anniversaries
2005XCOR Aerospace makes the first crewed rocket aircraft delivery of U.S. Mail in Kern County, California.24 years ago
1994Taiwan holds its first full local elections; James Soong elected as the first and only directly elected Governor of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian became the first directly elected Mayor of Taipei, Wu Den-yih became the first directly elected Mayor of Kaohsiung.35 years ago
1992A test engineer for Sema Group uses a personal computer to send the world's first text message via the Vodafone network to the phone of a colleague.37 years ago
1979Iranian Revolution: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran.50 years ago
1973Pioneer program: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter.56 years ago
1967At Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, a transplant team headed by Christiaan Barnard carries out the first heart transplant on a human (53-year-old Louis Washkansky).62 years ago
1929President Herbert Hoover delivers his first State of the Union message to Congress. It is presented in the form of a written message rather than a speech.100 years ago
1912Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia (the Balkan League) sign an armistice with the Ottoman Empire, temporarily halting the First Balkan War. (The armistice will expire on February 3, 1913, and hostilities will resume.)117 years ago
1910Modern neon lighting is first demonstrated by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show.119 years ago
1898The Duquesne Country and Athletic Club defeats an all-star collection of early football players 16–0, in what is considered to be the first all-star game for professional American football.131 years ago
1881The first issue of Tamperean daily newspaper Aamulehti ("Morning Paper") is published.148 years ago
1859Nigeria's first newspaper, missionary Henry Townsend's Iwe Irohin, was published.170 years ago
1834The Zollverein (German Customs Union) begins the first regular census in Germany.195 years ago
1800War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden: French General Jean Victor Marie Moreau decisively defeats the Archduke John of Austria near Munich. Coupled with First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte's earlier victory at Marengo, this will force the Austrians to sign an armistice and end the war.229 years ago
1775American Revolution: USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Continental Union Flag (precursor to the "Stars and Stripes"); the flag is hoisted by John Paul Jones.254 years ago
The week ahead, around the world
The same subject is marked on different dates almost everywhere.
Tuesday, Dec 4St Barbara's Day · Germany · Austria — Cherry branches are cut and brought inside to bloom by Christmas.
Tuesday, Dec 4Navy Day · India — Annual celebration
Tuesday, Dec 4Thai Environment Day · Thailand
Tuesday, Dec 4Tupou I Day · Tonga
Wednesday, Dec 5Sinterklaasavond · Netherlands — Gifts are given with a poem that teases the one who gets it.
Wednesday, Dec 5Father's Day · Thailand — The birthday of King Bhumibol.
Wednesday, Dec 5Children's Day · Suriname — Public observance in honor of children
Wednesday, Dec 5Day of Military Honour - Battle of Moscow · Russia — Memorable dates in the Russian Armed Forces
Wednesday, Dec 5Discovery Day · Haiti and Dominican Republic — Holiday commemorating significant national discovery
Wednesday, Dec 5International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development — Annual observance on 5 December
Wednesday, Dec 5Klozum · Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands — Traditional feast in dutch island
Wednesday, Dec 5Saint Nicholas' Eve (Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Poland and the UK) Krampusnacht (Austria) — Christmas figure in Alpine folklore
Wednesday, Dec 5The King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Birthday · Thailand
Wednesday, Dec 5World Soil Day — 2015 UN theme year
Thursday, Dec 6St Nicholas Day · Many countries — Children find sweets in the shoes they set out.
Thursday, Dec 6Independence Day · Finland — 1917; two candles in every window.
Thursday, Dec 6Anniversary of the Founding of Quito · Ecuador
Thursday, Dec 6Armed Forces Day · Ukraine — National holidays honoring military forces
Thursday, Dec 6Constitution Day · Spain
Thursday, Dec 6Day of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan — Country in Eastern Europe and West Asia
Thursday, Dec 6Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Finland from Russia in 1917. — Public holiday in Finland held on 6 December
Thursday, Dec 6National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women · Canada — Day of commemoration in Canada
Friday, Dec 7Día de las Velitas · Colombia — Little Candles Day: candles and lanterns in every window and doorway.
Friday, Dec 7Armed Forces Flag Day · India — Flag day of India, 7 December
Friday, Dec 7Eve of the Immaculate Conception-related observances: Day of the Little Candles, begins after sunset (Colombia) — Traditional holiday in Colombia
Friday, Dec 7International Civil Aviation Day — International observance, 7 December
Friday, Dec 7National Heroes Day · East Timor
Friday, Dec 7National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day · United States — American day of commemoration
Friday, Dec 7Spitak Remembrance Day · Armenia
Saturday, Dec 8The Immaculate Conception · Italy · Spain · Philippines — In Italy, the day the Christmas tree goes up.
Saturday, Dec 8Battle Day · Falkland Islands — Naval battle of World War I
Saturday, Dec 8Bodhi Day · Japan — Buddhist holiday
Saturday, Dec 8CARICOM–Cuba Day (Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba)
Saturday, Dec 8Constitution Day · Romania
Saturday, Dec 8Liberation Day · Syria — Public holiday in Syria
Saturday, Dec 8Day of Finnish Music · Finland — Finnish composer (1865–1957)
Saturday, Dec 8Hari-Kuyō · Kansai region, Japan — Japanese Buddhist and Shinto Festival of broken sewing needles
Saturday, Dec 8National Youth Day · Albania
Saturday, Dec 8Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Day · Ethiopia — National holiday of Ethiopia on 8 December
Sunday, Dec 9Anna's Day, marks the day to start the preparation process of the lutefisk to be consumed on Christmas Eve, as well as a Swedish name day, celebrating all people named Anna. · Sweden and Finland
Sunday, Dec 9Armed Forces Day · Peru — National holidays honoring military forces
Sunday, Dec 9Fatherland's Heroes Day · Russia
Sunday, Dec 9Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Tanganyika from Britain in 1961. · Tanzania
Sunday, Dec 9International Anti-Corruption Day · United Nations — Annual event of the UN on 9 December
Sunday, Dec 9National Heroes Day, formerly V.C. Bird Day. · Antigua and Barbuda
Sunday, Dec 9Navy Day · Sri Lanka — National holidays honoring military forces
Monday, Dec 10Human Rights Day · Worldwide — The Universal Declaration, 1948.
Monday, Dec 10Alfred Nobel Day or Nobeldagen · Sweden
Monday, Dec 10Constitution Day · Thailand