DayOneToday
Today, around the world
Saturday, December 15. What the world marks, and the firsts that happened on this day.
Today, somewhere · from DayOneToday
What the world marks
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International Esperanto CommunityZamenhof DayCommemoration in Esperanto culture
UNESCOWorld Turkic Language Family DayInternational day observed annually on 15 December
On this day · from DayOneToday
Firsts, not anniversaries
1981A suicide car bombing targeting the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, levels the embassy and kills 61 people, including Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon. The attack is considered the first modern suicide bombing.48 years ago
1970Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 successfully lands on Venus. It is the first successful soft landing on another planet.59 years ago
1965Project Gemini: Gemini 6A, crewed by Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford, is launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida. Four orbits later, it achieves the first space rendezvous, with Gemini 7.64 years ago
1871Sixteen-year-old telegraphist Ella Stewart keys and sends the first telegraphed message from Arizona Territory at the Deseret Telegraph Company office in Pipe Spring.158 years ago
1869The short-lived Republic of Ezo is proclaimed in the Ezo area of Japan. It is the first attempt to establish a democracy in Japan.160 years ago
The week ahead, around the world
The same subject is marked on different dates almost everywhere.
Sunday, Dec 16Day of Reconciliation · South Africa
Sunday, Dec 16Victory Day · Bangladesh — 1971.
Sunday, Dec 16Simbang Gabi begins · Philippines — Nine dawn masses before Christmas.
Sunday, Dec 16Day of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the Afrikaners · South Africa — Public holiday in South Africa on 16 December
Sunday, Dec 16Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991. — Holiday in Kazakhstan
Sunday, Dec 16National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971. — Designated date on which celebrations mark the nationhood of a nation
Sunday, Dec 16International Day of the Belt and Road Initiative — Chinese global infrastructure project
Sunday, Dec 16National Sports Day · Thailand
Sunday, Dec 16The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of Las Posadas (Mexico, Latin America) — Christmas tradition in the Spanish-speaking world
Sunday, Dec 16The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of the Simbang Gabi novena of masses (Philippines) — Pre-Christmas religious tradition in the Philippines
Sunday, Dec 16Victory Day observances, celebration of the Indo-Bangla allied victory over Pakistan armed forces and the Liberation of Bangladesh. · Bangladesh and India[a] — National holiday in Bangladesh
Monday, Dec 17Accession Day · Bahrain
Monday, Dec 17International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers — Annual awareness day
Monday, Dec 17Kurdish Flag Day · Global Kurdish population
Monday, Dec 17National Day · Bhutan
Monday, Dec 17Pan American Aviation Day · United States — December observance
Monday, Dec 17Wright Brothers Day, a United States federal observance by Presidential proclamation — United States national observation
Tuesday, Dec 18International Migrants Day — United Nations observance, 18 December
Tuesday, Dec 18National Day · Qatar — Annual celebration hosted on 18 December
Tuesday, Dec 18Republic Day · Niger — National holiday of Niger
Tuesday, Dec 18UN Arabic Language Day · United Nations — International event
Wednesday, Dec 19Goa Liberation Day · Goa, India — Annual observance, 19 December
Wednesday, Dec 19National Heroes and Heroines Day · Anguilla
Thursday, Dec 20Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres · Réunion, French Guiana — Ethnic group
Thursday, Dec 20Bo Aung Kyaw Day · Myanmar
Thursday, Dec 20Earliest date for Winter solstice's eve (Northern Hemisphere), and its related observances: Yaldā (Iran) — Persian festival
Thursday, Dec 20International Human Solidarity Day · International — United Nations annual unity day
Thursday, Dec 20Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day · Macau
Friday, Dec 21Dongzhi · China · East Asia — The winter solstice festival (December 21 or 22); families eat tangyuan together.
Friday, Dec 21Armed Forces Day · Philippines — National holidays honoring military forces
Friday, Dec 21Forefathers' Day · Plymouth, Massachusetts — Annual holiday in Plymouth, Massachusetts, US
Friday, Dec 21São Tomé Day · São Tomé and Príncipe
Saturday, Dec 22Mother's Day (Hari Ibu) · Indonesia
Saturday, Dec 22Dongzhi Festival — Twenty-second solar term of traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars and festival
Saturday, Dec 22Armed Forces Day · Vietnam — National holidays honoring military forces
Saturday, Dec 22Mother's Day · Indonesia — Celebration honouring mothers
Saturday, Dec 22National Mathematics Day · India — Celebration that commemorates the birthday of Srinivasa Ramanujan
Saturday, Dec 22Teachers' Day · Cuba — Day for appreciating teachers
Saturday, Dec 22Unity Day · Zimbabwe