DayOneToday
Today, around the world
Sunday, December 16. What the world marks, and the firsts that happened on this day.
Today, somewhere · from DayOneToday
What the world marks
South AfricaDay of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the AfrikanersPublic holiday in South Africa on 16 December
Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.Holiday in Kazakhstan
National 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
International Day of the Belt and Road InitiativeChinese global infrastructure project
ThailandNational Sports Day
The 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
The 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
Bangladesh and India[a]Victory Day observances, celebration of the Indo-Bangla allied victory over Pakistan armed forces and the Liberation of Bangladesh.National holiday in Bangladesh
On this day · from DayOneToday
Firsts, not anniversaries
1986The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR.43 years ago
1912First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli.117 years ago
1882Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match.147 years ago
1880Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire.149 years ago
1850The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand.179 years ago
1811The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri.218 years ago
1782British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah.247 years ago
1777Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.252 years ago
The week ahead, around the world
The same subject is marked on different dates almost everywhere.
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
Sunday, Dec 23Night of the Radishes · Oaxaca, Mexico — Radishes carved into figures and scenes.
Sunday, Dec 23Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day · Sweden
Sunday, Dec 23Children's Day · South Sudan and Sudan — Public observance in honor of children
Sunday, Dec 23Day of all level operational control structures servicemen · Ukraine — Combined military forces of Ukraine
Sunday, Dec 23Festivus, a secular holiday made popular by the sitcom Seinfeld — Secular holiday celebrated December 23
Sunday, Dec 23HumanLight · Secular humanism in United States — Humanist holiday
Sunday, Dec 23Kisan Diwas · Uttar Pradesh, India — Prime Minister of India from 1979 to 1980
Sunday, Dec 23Tibb's Eve · Newfoundland and Labrador — Regional holiday in western Newfoundland
Sunday, Dec 23Tom Bawcock's Eve · Mousehole, Cornwall — Annual festival in Mousehole, Cornwall, England
Sunday, Dec 23Victory Day · Egypt