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Born in December: famous birthdays and numbers for every day

December has 31 days, from the 335th to the 365th day of the year. People born in December are Sagittarius until December 21, then Capricorn. In 2026, December 1 falls on a Tuesday, and 8 of the month’s 31 days fall on a Saturday or Sunday.

Day by day, this page brings together 248 famous people, 124 events and 93 holidays and observances. The earliest birth listed is Catherine of Aragon (1485, December 16), the most recent Michael Olise (2001, December 12). 5 of them have a milestone birthday coming up, including Sonia Gandhi (80 on December 9, 2026), Keylor Navas (40 on December 15, 2026) and Steven Spielberg (80 on December 18, 2026). In the United States, the most common December birthday from 2000 to 2014 was December 19 (4th of 366 days, about 12,446 births that day each year), and the least common December 25 (366th).

Updated October 25, 2026. Famous people, events and holidays: Wikipedia and Wikidata. US birth counts: Social Security Administration, compiled by FiveThirtyEight.

Born in December? Enter your date of birth to see your exact age in days and your next milestones.

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How to read the December entries

Every day in December has its own entry. It starts with the day’s rank in the year, the zodiac sign (usual dates, give or take a day depending on the year) and the day’s rank within that sign, the day of the week it falls on the next three times, the years it lands on a Saturday or Sunday over the next ten years, and the date a baby born that day, next time it comes around, will be 10,000 days old. The last figure is the average number of babies born that day each year in the United States from 2000 to 2014, with the day’s rank out of 366.

Next come the eight people born that day with the most articles across the different Wikipedias (Wikidata, checked October 25, 2026); for living people, the age shown is the one they will reach on their next birthday, calculated by Cardiboo. Finally, a few events and holidays for the day, taken from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0 license), with a link to the full page for that day.

Born on December 1

335th day of the year (336th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 10th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2026, Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 18, 2054 · US: about 11,350 births that day each year (180th of 366)

December 1 in history

  • 2019 Vivianne Miedema scored six goals and had four assists for Arsenal W.F.C. in their 11–1 victory over Bristol City W.F.C., which broke the record for the most goals scored in a FA Women's Super League match.
  • 1991 A referendum held to ratify the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine passed with more than 92 percent of the vote.
  • 1988 Five armed men hijacked a bus carrying schoolchildren and a teacher in Ordzhonikidze (now Vladikavkaz, Russia), and were later given an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft and ransom for the release of the hostages.
  • 1971 A period of political and economic reforms in the Socialist Republic of Croatia came to an end as the League of Communists of Yugoslavia decided to purge the state's reformist leadership.

Holidays and observances on December 1

  • Battle of the Sinop Day (Russia)
  • Christian feast day: Alexander Briant
  • Christian feast day: Ansanus

Wikipedia: December 1

Born on December 2

336th day of the year (337th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 11th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2026, Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 19, 2054 · US: about 11,248 births that day each year (212th of 366)

  • 1981 Britney Spears, American singer, songwriter, actress and model (born 1981) — turns 45 in 2026
  • 1923 Maria Meneghini Callas, American-Greek operatic soprano (1923–1977)
  • 1978 Nelly Furtado, Portuguese-Canadian singer and songwriter — turns 48 in 2026
  • 1825 Pedro II of Brazil, 2nd and final Emperor of Brazil (r. 1831–89)
  • 1968 Lucy Liu, American actress (born 1968) — turns 58 in 2026
  • 1859 Georges Seurat, French painter (1859-1891)
  • 1973 Monica Seles, Yugoslav and American tennis player — turns 53 in 2026
  • 1891 Otto Dix, German painter and printmaker (1891–1969)

December 2 in history

  • 2016 Thirty-six people died when a fire broke out at an illegally converted warehouse in Oakland, California, the deadliest U.S. building fire since 2003.
  • 2001 Less than two months after disclosing accounting violations, the Texas-based energy firm Enron filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, evaporating nearly $11 billion in shareholder wealth.
  • 1989 The Malayan Communist Party and the Malaysian government signed a peace accord to end a 21-year communist insurgency.
  • 1988 Benazir Bhutto took office as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state.

Holidays and observances on December 2

  • Armed Forces Day (Cuba)
  • Christian feast day: Avitus of Rouen
  • Christian feast day: Bibiana

Wikipedia: December 2

Born on December 3

337th day of the year (338th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 12th day of the sign · Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 20, 2054 · US: about 11,406 births that day each year (166th of 366)

  • 1857 Joseph Conrad, Polish-British writer (1857–1924)
  • 1960 Julianne Moore, British-American actress and author (born 1960) — turns 66 in 2026
  • 1948 Ozzy Osbourne, English musician and television personality (1948–2025)
  • 1930 Jean-Luc Godard, French and Swiss film director (1930–2022)
  • 1985 Amanda Seyfried, American actress (born 1985) — turns 41 in 2026
  • 1981 David Villa, Spanish footballer — turns 45 in 2026
  • 1800 France Prešeren, Slovene national poet, a Carniolan Romantic poet of Slovene descent (1800–1849)
  • 1968 Brendan Fraser, Canadian-American actor (born 1968) — turns 58 in 2026

December 3 in history

  • 2024 South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law.
  • 1999 NASA lost contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before it reached the atmosphere of Mars and disappeared.
  • 1994 Sony released the PlayStation, the first computer entertainment platform to ship 100 million units.
  • 1990 Mary Robinson took office as the first female president of Ireland.

Holidays and observances on December 3

  • Christian feast day: Abbo of Auxerre
  • Christian feast day: Pope Abraham of Alexandria (Coptic, 6 Koiak))
  • Christian feast day: Adrian (Ethernan)

Wikipedia: December 3

Born on December 4

338th day of the year (339th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 13th day of the sign · Friday in 2026, Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 21, 2054 · US: about 11,322 births that day each year (185th of 366)

  • 1875 Rainer Maria Rilke, Austrian poet and writer (1875–1926)
  • 1795 Thomas Carlyle, Scottish essayist, historian and philosopher (1795–1881)
  • 1969 Jay-Z, American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur — turns 57 in 2026
  • 1949 Jeff Bridges, American actor — turns 77 in 2026
  • 1973 Tyra Banks, American television personality, producer, and former model — turns 53 in 2026
  • 1835 Samuel Butler, English novelist and critic (1835–1902)
  • 1996 Diogo Jota, Portuguese footballer (1996-2025)
  • 1963 Sergei Bubka, Ukrainian pole vaulter — turns 63 in 2026

December 4 in history

  • 2012 "Il Canto degli Italiani" officially became the national anthem of Italy, 66 years after it was provisionally chosen following the birth of the Italian Republic.
  • 2006 Six black teenagers assaulted a white student in Jena, Louisiana; the subsequent court cases became a cause célèbre for perceived racial injustice in the United States.
  • 1992 U.S. president George H. W. Bush ordered American troops into Somalia to help provide humanitarian aid and restore order during the ongoing Somali Civil War.
  • 1986 The MV Amazon Venture oil tanker starts leaking while at the port of Savannah, resulting in an oil spill of approximately 500,000 US gallons (1,900,000 L).

Holidays and observances on December 4

  • Christian feast day: Ada
  • Christian feast day: Anno II
  • Christian feast day: Barbara, and its related observances: Barbórka, Miners' Day in Poland

Wikipedia: December 4

Born on December 5

339th day of the year (340th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 14th day of the sign · Saturday in 2026, Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026, 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 22, 2054 · US: about 11,580 births that day each year (122nd of 366)

December 5 in history

  • 1972 Gough Whitlam took office as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia and formed a duumvirate with his deputy Lance Barnard, ending 23 years of Liberal–Country Party government.
  • 1965 The "glasnost meeting" took place in Moscow, becoming the first demonstration in the Soviet Union after World War II and marking the beginning of the civil rights movement in the country.
  • 1958 Britain's first motorway, the Preston Bypass, opened to the public.
  • 1936 The 1936 Soviet constitution, also known as the "Stalin constitution", was adopted.

Holidays and observances on December 5

  • Christian feast day: Clement of Alexandria (Episcopal Church)
  • Christian feast day: Crispina of Numidia
  • Christian feast day: Dalmatius of Pavia

Wikipedia: December 5

Born on December 6

340th day of the year (341st in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 15th day of the sign · Sunday in 2026, Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 23, 2054 · US: about 11,303 births that day each year (190th of 366)

December 6 in history

  • 2017 Under President Donald Trump, the United States government officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
  • 1999 The Recording Industry Association of America filed a lawsuit against the peer-to-peer file sharing network Napster, alleging that the service facilitated widespread copyright infringement.
  • 1992 The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India, was demolished by Hindu Kar Sevaks, who believed that it was built on the birthplace of Rama.
  • 1988 Self-government was granted to the Australian Capital Territory.

Holidays and observances on December 6

  • Anniversary of the Founding of Quito (Ecuador)
  • Armed Forces Day (Ukraine)
  • Christian feast day: Abraham of Kratia

Wikipedia: December 6

Born on December 7

341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 16th day of the sign · Monday in 2026, Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028 · weekend in 2030 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 24, 2054 · US: about 10,970 births that day each year (295th of 366)

  • 1980 John Terry, English association football player (born 1980) — turns 46 in 2026
  • 1598 Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Italian sculptor and architect (1598–1680)
  • 1863 Pietro Mascagni, Italian composer known for operas (1863–1945)
  • 1984 Robert Kubica, Polish racing and rally driver (born 1984) — turns 42 in 2026
  • 1823 Leopold Kronecker, German mathematician who worked on number theory and algebra (1823–1891)
  • 1873 Willa Cather, American writer (1873–1947)
  • 1915 Eli Wallach, American actor (1915–2014)
  • 1924 Mário Soares, President of Portugal (1924–2017)

December 7 in history

  • 2015 The JAXA space probe Akatsuki entered into orbit around Venus to study the planet's atmosphere, five years after its first attempt failed.
  • 2011 The United States transferred its last base in the Al Anbar Governorate to the Iraqi government, ending the Anbar campaign.
  • 1995 The Galileo spacecraft arrived at Jupiter, a little more than six years after it was launched by Space Shuttle Atlantis during Mission STS-34.
  • 1975 The Indonesian military began a lengthy occupation of East Timor under the pretext of anti-colonialism.

Holidays and observances on December 7

  • Armed Forces Flag Day (India)
  • Christian feast day: Aemilianus (Greek Church)
  • Christian feast day: Ambrose

Wikipedia: December 7

Born on December 8

342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 17th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2026, Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 25, 2054 · US: about 10,963 births that day each year (296th of 366)

December 8 in history

  • 2024 The Syrian civil war ended when Bashar al-Assad's party, the Syrian Ba'ath Party, surrendered to the Syrian opposition.
  • 2013 Metallica played a concert in Antarctica, becoming the first band to perform on all seven continents.
  • 2010 The Japanese experimental spacecraft IKAROS flew by Venus at a distance of 80,800 km (50,200 mi), completing its planned mission to demonstrate solar-sail technology.
  • 1998 The Australian Cricket Board's cover-up of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh's involvement with bookmakers was revealed.

Holidays and observances on December 8

  • Battle Day (Falkland Islands)
  • Bodhi Day (Japan)
  • CARICOM–Cuba Day (Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba)

Wikipedia: December 8

Born on December 9

343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 18th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2026, Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 26, 2054 · US: about 10,888 births that day each year (314th of 366)

  • 1608 John Milton, English poet and civil servant (1608–1674)
  • 1842 Peter Kropotkin, Russian revolutionary socialist and philosopher (1842–1921)
  • 1916 Kirk Douglas, American actor (1916–2020)
  • 1954 Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1995-2013) and President of the European Commission (2014-2019) — turns 72 in 2026
  • 1934 Judi Dench, English actress (born 1934) — turns 92 in 2026
  • 1868 Fritz Haber, German chemist and receiver of the Nobel prize (1868–1934)
  • 1946 Sonia Gandhi, Indian politician — turns 80 in 2026
  • 1906 Grace Hopper, American computer scientist and United States Navy officer (1906–1992)

December 9 in history

  • 2022 Members of the European Parliament, including Vice President Eva Kaili, and their associates are arrested in connection with the Qatar corruption scandal.
  • 2017 Same-sex marriage in Australia became legal as the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 came into effect.
  • 2016 Park Geun-hye, the president of South Korea, was impeached, marking the culmination of the country's political scandal.
  • 2008 Rod Blagojevich, the governor of Illinois, was arrested on corruption charges, including for attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by president-elect Barack Obama.

Holidays and observances on December 9

  • Armed Forces Day (Peru)
  • Christian feast day: Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by St. Anne (Eastern Orthodox Church)
  • Christian feast day: Hannah (biblical figure) (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Wikipedia: December 9

Born on December 10

344th day of the year (345th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 19th day of the sign · Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 27, 2054 · US: about 11,229 births that day each year (222nd of 366)

December 10 in history

  • 1993 The video game Doom, later considered the "father" of the first-person shooter genre, is released.
  • 1992 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan establishes the Marriage Fund in the United Arab Emirates in response to rising wedding prices.
  • 1989 At the first open pro-democracy demonstration in Mongolia, journalist Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj announced the formation of the Mongolian Democratic Union, which would be instrumental in ending communist rule four months later.
  • 1983 Raúl Alfonsín became the first democratically elected president of Argentina to take office after more than seven years of military dictatorship.

Holidays and observances on December 10

  • Alfred Nobel Day or Nobeldagen (Sweden)
  • Christian feast day: Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Syriac Orthodox Church)
  • Christian feast day: Eulalia of Mérida

Wikipedia: December 10

Born on December 11

345th day of the year (346th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 20th day of the sign · Friday in 2026, Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 28, 2054 · US: about 11,252 births that day each year (210th of 366)

December 11 in history

  • 2008 American stockbroker Bernie Madoff was arrested and charged with securities fraud in a $64.8 billion Ponzi scheme, the largest in history.
  • 2006 The first action in the Mexican drug war began as President Felipe Calderón ordered Mexican soldiers and Federal Police units into the state of Michoacán.
  • 2006 Criticized worldwide as a "meeting of Holocaust deniers", the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust opened in Tehran.
  • 2005 Demonstrations in Cronulla, a suburb of Sydney, against recent violence towards locals turned into a series of race riots.

Holidays and observances on December 11

  • Christian feast day: Cian
  • Christian feast day: Daniel the Stylite
  • Christian feast day: María de las Maravillas de Jesús

Wikipedia: December 11

Born on December 12

346th day of the year (347th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 21st day of the sign · Saturday in 2026, Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026, 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 29, 2054 · US: about 11,970 births that day each year (54th of 366)

December 12 in history

  • 2021 At the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to become World Drivers' Champion.
  • 2012 North Korea made its first successful satellite launch, as Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 reached orbit.
  • 2000 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore that the recount of ballots cast in Florida for the presidential election be stopped, effectively making George W. Bush the winner.
  • 1969 The Greek junta announced its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after the junta was found guilty of torture and other human-rights violations by the European Commission of Human Rights.

Holidays and observances on December 12

  • Christian feast day: Corentin of Quimper
  • Christian feast day: Jane Frances de Chantal
  • Christian feast day: Edburga of Minster-in-Thanet

Wikipedia: December 12

Born on December 13

347th day of the year (348th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 22nd day of the sign · Sunday in 2026, Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on April 30, 2054 · US: about 11,253 births that day each year (209th of 366)

  • 1989 Taylor Swift, American singer-songwriter (born 1989) — turns 37 in 2026
  • 1797 Heinrich Heine, German poet, writer and literary critic (1797–1856)
  • 1929 Christopher Plummer, Canadian actor (1929–2021)
  • 1967 Jamie Foxx, American actor, comedian, and singer (born 1967) — turns 59 in 2026
  • 1953 Ben Bernanke, American economist (born 1953) — turns 73 in 2026
  • 1957 Steve Buscemi, American actor — turns 69 in 2026
  • 1923 Philip W. Anderson, American physicist (1923-2020)
  • 1981 Amy Lee, American singer, pianist and songwriter — turns 45 in 2026

December 13 in history

  • 2019 Jo Swinson steps down as Leader of the Liberal Democrats after losing her seat in the 2019 general election making her tenure the shortest in the party's history.
  • 2013 Beyoncé released her fifth studio album without any prior announcement or promotion; it sold 2.3 million copies before the end of the year.
  • 1991 Croatian War of Independence: The Croatian Army retreated after the failure of Operation Whirlwind, destroying their tanks to avoid their capture.
  • 1989 The Troubles: The Provisional Irish Republican Army engaged in a fierce firefight with the King's Own Scottish Borderers at a vehicle checkpoint complex in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Holidays and observances on December 13

  • Christian feast day: St Antiochus of Sulcis
  • Christian feast day: Blessed Francesco Marinoni
  • Christian feast day: St Judoc aka St Joyce

Wikipedia: December 13

Born on December 14

348th day of the year (349th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 23rd day of the sign · Monday in 2026, Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028 · weekend in 2030 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 1, 2054 · US: about 11,193 births that day each year (229th of 366)

  • 1947 Dilma Rousseff, 36th President of Brazil (2011-2016), 3rd President of the New Development Bank (BRICS) — turns 79 in 2026
  • 1895 George VI, King of the United Kingdom from 1936 to 1952
  • 1988 Vanessa Hudgens, American actress and singer (born 1988) — turns 38 in 2026
  • 1970 Anna Maria Jopek, Polish musician and singer — turns 56 in 2026
  • 1979 Michael Owen, English association football player — turns 47 in 2026
  • 1895 Paul Éluard, French poet (1895–1952)
  • 1924 Raj Kapoor, Indian actor and filmmaker (1924–1988)
  • 1922 Nikolay Basov, Soviet physicist (1922-2001)

December 14 in history

  • 1998 Kosovo War: Yugoslav forces ambushed a group of Kosovo Liberation Army militants attempting to smuggle weapons into Yugoslavia from Albania.
  • 1981 The Knesset passed the Golan Heights Law, extending Israeli "laws, jurisdiction and administration" to the Golan Heights, effectively annexing the territory internationally recognized as part of Syria.
  • 1972 Upon completing the third extra-vehicular activity of Apollo 17, American astronaut Gene Cernan became the last person to date to walk on the Moon.
  • 1960 Australian cricketer Ian Meckiff was run out on the last day of the first Test match between Australia and the West Indies, resulting in the first tied Test in cricket history.

Holidays and observances on December 14

  • Christian feast day: Folcwin
  • Christian feast day: John of the Cross
  • Christian feast day: John III of the Sedre (Syriac Orthodox Church)

Wikipedia: December 14

Born on December 15

349th day of the year (350th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 24th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2026, Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 2, 2054 · US: about 11,243 births that day each year (217th of 366)

December 15 in history

  • 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act protests: 10 to 15 local women blockaded a major road in Delhi, India, to protest the exclusion of Muslims from the amended Citizenship Act.
  • 2013 The South Sudanese Civil War began when three opposition leaders voted to boycott the meeting of the National Liberation Council in Juba.
  • 1970 The Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 touched down on the surface of Venus, making the first successful landing of a spacecraft on another planet.
  • 1946 U.S.-backed Iranian troops brought an end to the Iran crisis when they marched on the breakaway Republic of Mahabad and recaptured the territory.

Holidays and observances on December 15

  • Bill of Rights Day (United States) 2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina)
  • Christian feast day: Drina Martyrs
  • Christian feast day: Drostan (Aberdeen Breviary)

Wikipedia: December 15

Born on December 16

350th day of the year (351st in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 25th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2026, Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 3, 2054 · US: about 11,350 births that day each year (181st of 366)

December 16 in history

  • 2012 A woman was gang-raped and fatally assaulted on a bus in Delhi, generating protests across India against inadequate security for women.
  • 1997 Amid an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, the British government banned the sale of beef on the bone for human consumption.
  • 1997 "Dennō Senshi Porygon", an episode of the Japanese television series Pokémon, induced epileptic seizures in 685 children.
  • 1971 The surrender of Pakistani forces in Dacca, East Pakistan, concluded the Bangladesh Liberation War and the India-Pakistan War.

Holidays and observances on December 16

  • Christian feast day: Adelaide of Italy
  • Christian feast day: Haggai
  • Christian feast day: Blessed Marianna Fontanella

Wikipedia: December 16

Born on December 17

351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 26th day of the sign · Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 4, 2054 · US: about 11,749 births that day each year (82nd of 366)

  • 1936 Pope Francis, 266th pope of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025 (1936–2025)
  • 1778 Humphry Davy, British chemist
  • 1975 Milla Jovovich, American actress (born 1975) — turns 51 in 2026
  • 1942 Muhammadu Buhari, former President of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985 and 2015 to 2025 (1942–2025)
  • 1978 Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxer, basketball player, singer, actor, politician and philanthropist — turns 48 in 2026
  • 1948 Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Turkish politician (born 1948) — turns 78 in 2026
  • 1908 Willard Libby, American physical chemist
  • 1987 Chelsea Manning, American activist and whistleblower (born 1987) — turns 39 in 2026

December 17 in history

  • 2010 Arab Spring: Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor in Sidi Bouzid, set himself on fire in protest against police harassment, triggering the Tunisian revolution.
  • 1990 American gay rights activist William E. Woods brought three same-sex couples to fill out marriage licenses in Honolulu.
  • 1970 Polish soldiers fired at workers emerging from trains in Gdynia, beginning the government's crackdown on mass anti-communist protests across the country.
  • 1967 Harold Holt, the prime minister of Australia, disappeared while swimming near Portsea, Victoria; his body was never recovered.

Holidays and observances on December 17

  • Christian feast day: Daniel the Prophet
  • Christian feast day: Josep Manyanet i Vives
  • Christian feast day: Lazarus of Bethany (local commemoration in Cuba)

Wikipedia: December 17

Born on December 18

352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 27th day of the sign · Friday in 2026, Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 5, 2054 · US: about 12,061 births that day each year (38th of 366)

December 18 in history

  • 2023 A series of mass protests began in Belgrade, Serbia, alleging electoral irregularities in the Serbian parliament and Belgrade city assembly elections.
  • 1996 The school board of Oakland, California, passed a controversial resolution officially declaring African-American Vernacular English to be a separate language or dialect.
  • 1969 On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the sixth James Bond film and the only one to star George Lazenby, premiered at the Odeon Leicester Square in London.
  • 1966 Epimetheus, one of the moons of Saturn, was discovered, but was mistaken for Janus; it took twelve years to determine that they are two distinct objects sharing the same orbit.

Holidays and observances on December 18

  • Christian feast day: Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Christian feast day: Flannán
  • Christian feast day: Gatianus of Tours

Wikipedia: December 18

Born on December 19

353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 28th day of the sign · Saturday in 2026, Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026, 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 6, 2054 · US: about 12,446 births that day each year (4th of 366)

December 19 in history

  • 2013 The European Space Agency's spacecraft Gaia was launched with the goal of constructing the largest and most precise star catalogue ever made.
  • 1997 Titanic, the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time with a worldwide total of more than US$2.2 billion, was released in the United States.
  • 1985 Aeroflot Flight 101/435 was hijacked by its co-pilot; it landed in a cow pasture in China, where he was apprehended.
  • 1984 China and the United Kingdom signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, agreeing to the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997.

Holidays and observances on December 19

  • Christian feast day: Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church)
  • Christian feast day: O Radix
  • Christian feast day: Pope Anastasius I

Wikipedia: December 19

Born on December 20

354th day of the year (355th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 29th day of the sign · Sunday in 2026, Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 7, 2054 · US: about 12,440 births that day each year (6th of 366)

December 20 in history

  • 2007 Pablo Picasso's Portrait of Suzanne Bloch was stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art before being recovered about three weeks later.
  • 1999 Portugal transferred the sovereignty over Macau, which it had administered since the mid–16th century, to China.
  • 1995 Mandated by the Dayton Agreement that ended the Bosnian War, the NATO-led Implementation Force began peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • 1984 Twelve-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappeared from her home in Greeley, Colorado; her body was not discovered until 2019.

Holidays and observances on December 20

  • Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana)
  • Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar)
  • Christian feast day: Dominic of Silos

Wikipedia: December 20

Born on December 21

355th day of the year (356th in leap years) · ♐ Sagittarius, 30th day of the sign · Monday in 2026, Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028 · weekend in 2030 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 8, 2054 · US: about 11,976 births that day each year (53rd of 366)

  • 1977 Emmanuel Macron, President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017 — turns 49 in 2026
  • 1804 Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman (1804–1881)
  • 1937 Jane Fonda, American actress and activist — turns 89 in 2026
  • 1942 Hu Jintao, former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party — turns 84 in 2026
  • 1967 Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgian and Ukrainian politician, third President of Georgia (2004–2013) and Governor of Odesa Oblast (2015–2016) — turns 59 in 2026
  • 1917 Heinrich Böll, German writer (1917–1985)
  • 1940 Frank Zappa, American musician (1940–1993)
  • 1948 Samuel L. Jackson, American actor (born 1948) — turns 78 in 2026

December 21 in history

  • 2018 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.
  • 2012 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.
  • 1995 In accordance with the Oslo II Accord, Israeli troops withdrew from Bethlehem in preparation for the transfer of control to the Palestinian National Authority.
  • 1994 Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano, dormant for 47 years, began erupting, and is now one of the nation's most active volcanoes.

Holidays and observances on December 21

  • Armed Forces Day (Philippines)
  • Christian feast day: O Oriens
  • Christian feast day: Peter Canisius

Wikipedia: December 21

Born on December 22

356th day of the year (357th in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 1st day of the sign · Tuesday in 2026, Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 9, 2054 · US: about 11,477 births that day each year (141st of 366)

December 22 in history

  • 2014 The United States Copyright Office stated that works lacking human authorship, such as a photograph taken by a monkey, could not be registered for copyright in the United States.
  • 2010 The United States repealed its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the military.
  • 2008 A dike ruptured at a waste containment area for a coal-fired power plant in Kingston, Tennessee, releasing 1.1 billion gallons (4.2 million m3) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in US history.
  • 2001 Burhanuddin Rabbani of the Northern Alliance handed over power in Afghanistan to the interim government headed by Hamid Karzai.

Holidays and observances on December 22

  • Dongzhi Festival
  • Armed Forces Day (Vietnam)
  • Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church)

Wikipedia: December 22

Born on December 23

357th day of the year (358th in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 2nd day of the sign · Wednesday in 2026, Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 10, 2054 · US: about 10,367 births that day each year (353rd of 366)

December 23 in history

  • 2008 The Guinean military engineered a coup d'état, announcing that it planned to rule the country for two years prior to a new presidential election.
  • 1997 The Pioneer Helmet, one of only six Anglo-Saxon helmets to be discovered, was first placed on public display.
  • 1990 About 88 percent of eligible voters in Slovenia voted to secede from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
  • 1958 Tokyo Tower, then the world's tallest freestanding tower, opened.

Holidays and observances on December 23

  • Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day (Sweden)
  • Children's Day (South Sudan and Sudan)
  • Christian Feast Day: Abassad (Coptic Church)

Wikipedia: December 23

Born on December 24

358th day of the year (359th in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 3rd day of the sign · Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 11, 2054 · US: about 8,034 births that day each year (364th of 366)

  • 1818 James Prescott Joule, English physicist and brewer (1818–1889)
  • 1798 Adam Mickiewicz, Polish national poet, dramatist, essayist, publicist, translator, and political activist (1798-1855)
  • 1961 Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan since 2003 — turns 65 in 2026
  • 1957 Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 — turns 69 in 2026
  • 1943 Tarja Halonen, President of Finland from 2000 to 2012 (born 1943) — turns 83 in 2026
  • 1922 Ava Gardner, American actress (1922–1990)
  • 1868 Emanuel Lasker, Greman chess player, World Chess champion (1868–1941)
  • 1971 Ricky Martin, Puerto Rican singer (born 1971) — turns 55 in 2026

December 24 in history

  • 1999 Jihadists linked to al-Qaeda hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 to force the release of Islamist figures held in prison in India.
  • 1979 The Soviet government deployed troops in Afghanistan, starting the Soviet–Afghan War.
  • 1973 The U.S. Congress granted home rule to Washington, D.C., allowing the residents to elect their own mayor and a city council.
  • 1968 Piloted by Jim Lovell, Apollo 8 became the first human spaceflight to reach and orbit the Moon.

Holidays and observances on December 24

  • Christian feast day: Adela and Irmina
  • Christian feast day: Paola Elisabetta Cerioli
  • Christian feast day: Adam and Eve

Wikipedia: December 24

Born on December 25

359th day of the year (360th in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 4th day of the sign · Friday in 2026, Saturday in 2027, Monday in 2028 · weekend in 2027, 2032 and 2033 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 12, 2054 · US: about 6,438 births that day each year (366th of 366)

December 25 in history

  • 2024 After the loss of aircraft systems, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashed near Aktau International Airport while attempting to perform an emergency landing after being hit by a Russian defense missile.
  • 2009 Aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear.
  • 2009 A fire destroyed Longford's 19th-century St Mel's Cathedral, considered the "flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands.
  • 2000 Russian president Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill officially adopting a new national anthem, with music by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov originally composed for the anthem of the Soviet Union.

Holidays and observances on December 25

  • Christmas Day, Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. (Internationally observed)
  • Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Catholic Church)
  • Christian feast day: Stephen (Armenian Apostolic Church)

Wikipedia: December 25

Born on December 26

360th day of the year (361st in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 5th day of the sign · Saturday in 2026, Sunday in 2027, Tuesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026, 2027 and 2032 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 13, 2054 · US: about 9,874 births that day each year (361st of 366)

  • 1893 Mao Zedong, 1st chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and founder of the People's Republic of China (1893–1976)
  • 1791 Charles Babbage, English mathematician, philosopher, and engineer (1791–1871)
  • 1891 Henry Miller, American novelist (1891–1980)
  • 1971 Jared Leto, American actor, singer, musician and songwriter (born 1971) — turns 55 in 2026
  • 1986 Hugo Lloris, French footballer (born 1986) — turns 40 in 2026
  • 1864 Yun Ch'iho, Korean independence activist (1864-1945)
  • 1949 José Ramos-Horta, 2nd and 5th President of East Timor, Nobel Prize laureate — turns 77 in 2026
  • 1953 Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Estonian politician and diplomat, fourth president of Estonia (born 1953) — turns 73 in 2026

December 26 in history

  • 2025 Israel recognises Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so.
  • 2006 Two earthquakes off the southwest coast of Taiwan damaged submarine communications cables, disrupting Internet services in Asia and affecting financial transactions.
  • 1996 Six-year-old American beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado.
  • 1996 The Federation of Korean Trade Unions called on its 1.2 million members to refuse to work, beginning the largest organized strike in South Korean history.

Holidays and observances on December 26

  • Christian feast day: Abadiu of Antinoe (Coptic Church)
  • Christian feast day: Pope Dionysius
  • Christian feast day: James the Just (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Wikipedia: December 26

Born on December 27

361st day of the year (362nd in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 6th day of the sign · Sunday in 2026, Monday in 2027, Wednesday in 2028 · weekend in 2026 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 14, 2054 · US: about 12,189 births that day each year (25th of 366)

December 27 in history

  • 2024 Acting president and prime minister of South Korea Han Duck-soo was impeached by the National Assembly.
  • 2009 During protests in Tehran against the recent presidential election, Iranian security forces opened fire on demonstrators.
  • 2007 Riots erupted in Mombasa, Kenya, after Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election—the first event in a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis.
  • 2002 The human-cloning company Clonaid claimed to have performed the first reproductive cloning of a human, but provided no evidence for the claim.

Holidays and observances on December 27

  • Christian feast day: Blessed Francesco Spoto
  • Christian feast day: Blessed Sára Salkaházi
  • Christian feast day: Fabiola

Wikipedia: December 27

Born on December 28

362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 7th day of the sign · Monday in 2026, Tuesday in 2027, Thursday in 2028 · weekend in 2030 and 2031 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 15, 2054 · US: about 12,193 births that day each year (22nd of 366)

  • 1856 Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States (1913–1921)
  • 1969 Linus Torvalds, Finnish software engineer (born 1969) — turns 57 in 2026
  • 1903 John von Neumann, Hungarian and American mathematician and physicist (1903–1957)
  • 1955 Liu Xiaobo, Chinese literary critic, writer, professor, and human rights activist (1955–2017)
  • 1954 Denzel Washington, American actor (born 1954) — turns 72 in 2026
  • 1922 Stan Lee, American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer (1922–2018)
  • 1934 Maggie Smith, English actress (1934–2024)
  • 1882 Arthur Eddington, British astrophysicist (1882-1944)

December 28 in history

  • 2018 Netflix released Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, its first interactive content for adults.
  • 2009 Tibetan dissident filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen was imprisoned for subversion by Chinese authorities after a secret trial.
  • 2006 Somali Civil War: Troops of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government and their Ethiopian allies captured Mogadishu unopposed.
  • 1991 An unidentified body, later identified as Vivianne Ruiz, was found in garbage bags.

Holidays and observances on December 28

  • Christian feast day: Abel (Coptic Church)
  • Christian feast day: Caterina Volpicelli
  • Christian feast day: Simon the Athonite

Wikipedia: December 28

Born on December 29

363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 8th day of the sign · Tuesday in 2026, Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028 · weekend in 2029, 2030 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 16, 2054 · US: about 12,068 births that day each year (36th of 366)

December 29 in history

  • 2024 Jeju Air Flight 2216 crashed at Muan International Airport while attempting to perform a belly-landing after losing engine thrust to a flock of Baikal teal.
  • 1959 American physicist Richard Feynman gave a speech entitled "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" at Caltech, anticipating the field of nanotechnology.
  • 1928 The Northern Expedition, a military campaign by the National Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang, ended with the complete control of the Republic of China.
  • 1915 First World War: The French parliament passed a law granting the land occupied by British war graves as "the free gift of the French people".

Holidays and observances on December 29

  • Christian feast day: Ebrulf
  • Christian feast day: Thomas Becket
  • Christian feast day: Trophimus of Arles

Wikipedia: December 29

Born on December 30

364th day of the year (365th in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 9th day of the sign · Wednesday in 2026, Thursday in 2027, Saturday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2029, 2034 and 2035 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 17, 2054 · US: about 11,918 births that day each year (62nd of 366)

  • 1865 Rudyard Kipling, English writer and poet (1865–1936)
  • 1984 LeBron James, American basketball player (born 1984) — turns 42 in 2026
  • 1969 Kersti Kaljulaid, Estonian politician and president of Estonia (born 1969) — turns 57 in 2026
  • 1975 Tiger Woods, American golfer — turns 51 in 2026
  • 1930 Tu Youyou, Chinese medical scientist — turns 96 in 2026
  • 1963 Mike Pompeo, American politician, United States Secretary of State — turns 63 in 2026
  • 1819 Theodor Fontane, German novelist and poet (1819–1898)
  • 1935 Omar Bongo, Gabonese politician (1935–2009)

December 30 in history

  • 2009 Due to a rupture of the Lanzhou–Zhengzhou–Changsha pipeline in Shaanxi, China, caused approximately 150,000 l (40,000 US gal) of diesel oil flowed down the Wei River before finally reaching the Yellow River six days later.
  • 2009 Pro-government counter-demonstrators held rallies in several Iranian cities in response to recent anti-government protests on the holy day of Ashura.
  • 2006 Basque nationalist group ETA detonated a van bomb at Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain, ending a nine-month ceasefire.
  • 2006 Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, was executed after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal.

Holidays and observances on December 30

  • Christian feast day: Abraham the Writer
  • Christian feast day: Anysia of Salonika
  • Christian feast day: Egwin of Evesham

Wikipedia: December 30

Born on December 31

365th day of the year (366th in leap years) · ♑ Capricorn, 10th day of the sign · Thursday in 2026, Friday in 2027, Sunday in 2028 · weekend in 2028, 2033 and 2034 · baby of 2026: 10,000 days on May 18, 2054 · US: about 10,549 births that day each year (348th of 366)

  • 1869 Henri Matisse, French artist (1869–1954)
  • 1941 Alex Ferguson, Scottish association football manager and former player (born 1941) — turns 85 in 2026
  • 1880 George Marshall, American army officer and statesman (1880–1959)
  • 1959 Val Kilmer, American actor (1959–2025)
  • 1908 Simon Wiesenthal, Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter (1908–2005)
  • 1954 Alex Salmond, Alba Party leader and First Minister of Scotland 2007–2014 (1954–2024)
  • 1937 Avram Hershko, Israeli biochemist — turns 89 in 2026
  • 1838 Émile Loubet, 8th president of France (1838–1929)

December 31 in history

  • 2004 Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, opened to the public as the world's tallest building.
  • 1999 Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin became acting president upon President Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation.
  • 1999 In accordance with the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal Zone from the United States.
  • 1998 The European Exchange Rate Mechanism froze the exchange rates of the legacy currencies in the eurozone, establishing the value of the euro.

Holidays and observances on December 31

  • Christian feast day: Pope Sylvester I (Catholic Church)
  • Christian feast day: December 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
  • International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)

Wikipedia: December 31

Frequently asked questions

What is the zodiac sign for people born in December?

Sagittarius ♐ until December 21, then Capricorn ♑ from December 22 (usual dates, give or take a day depending on the year).

Which famous people were born in December?

For example Pablo Escobar (December 1, 1949), Peter Handke (December 6, 1942), Naguib Mahfouz (December 11, 1911), Ludwig van Beethoven (December 16, 1770), Emmanuel Macron (December 21, 1977) and Mao Zedong (December 26, 1893). The eight best-known people for every day in December are in the entries above.

Which December birthdays fall on a weekend in 2026?

8 days out of 31: December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, 2026.