The History Shack

  As the last day of the year approaches, Scotland is illuminated with Hogmanay's vibrant and heartwarming spirit. This isn't just a New Year's Eve celebration; it is a festival steeped in history and tradition, uniquely Scottish and richly woven with customs that kindle warmth and camaraderie even in the heart of winter.  The cold, starry nights are set ablaze with fire festivals, where communities gather, and the air is filled with the scent of burning pine from the fireball-swinging ceremonies in Stonehaven, casting a warm, orange glow over the faces of onlookers. The fire, crackling and bright, symbolizes the sun and is a potent reminder of longer days ahead, driving away the darkness of winter and any lingering spirits from the old year.  At the stroke of midnight, amidst the explosion of colorful fireworks painting the winter sky, the melodious strains of "Auld Lang Syne" rise and swell in unison with voices. Penned by the beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns,...

  OTD December 31st is the 365th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 0 days remain until the end of the year.   Events 406 – Vandals, Alans, and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gaul. 870 – Battle of Englefield: The Vikings clash with Ealdorman Æthelwulf of Berkshire. The invaders are driven back to Reading (East Anglia); many Danes are killed. 1600 – The British East India Company is chartered. 1687 – The first Huguenots set sail from France to the Cape of Good Hope. 1759 – Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000-year lease at £45 per annum and starts brewing Guinness. 1790 – Efimeris, the oldest Greek newspaper of which issues have survived till today, is published for the first time. 1796 – The incorporation of Baltimore as a city. 1831 – Gramercy Park is deeded to New York City. 1862 – American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln signed an act that admitted West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two. 1907 – The first-ever ball d...

    Rudyard Kipling, a luminary of English literature, was born on December 30, 1865, in Bombay, India, during British rule. Raised in India's lush and culturally rich landscape, his early childhood was filled with the sights and sounds of the subcontinent, which would profoundly influence his writing. However, at the age of five, he was sent to England for schooling, where he faced a harsh and lonely time at the hands of his foster family. He later attended the United Services College in Westward Ho!, Devon, a more positive period that nurtured his burgeoning literary talent.  Kipling's vast and varied work reflects a life spent between India, England, and later America. His most significant and best-known works often draw upon his experiences in India, including the Jungle Book series (1894-1895), a collection of stories featuring Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle, and "Kim" (1901), a novel depicting the complex and vibrant tapestry of Indian cult...

 OTD December 30th is the 364th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 1 day remains until the end of the year.  Events 1066 – Granada massacre: A Muslim mob storms the royal palace in Granada, crucifies Jewish vizier Joseph ibn Naghrela, and massacres most of the Jewish population of the city. 1460 – Wars of the Roses: Lancastrians kill the 3rd Duke of York and win the Battle of Wakefield. 1813 – War of 1812: British soldiers burn Buffalo, New York. 1853 – Gadsden Purchase: The United States buys land from Mexico to facilitate railroad building in the Southwest. 1902 – The Discovery Expedition under Robert Falcon Scott attained a Farthest South at 82°17′S in Antarctica. 1916 – Russian mystic and advisor to the Tsar Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is murdered by a loyalist group led by Prince Felix Yusupov. His frozen, partially trussed body was discovered in a Petrograd river three days later. 1922 – The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is formed. ...

  On the night of December 29, 1940, London was set ablaze under a barrage of incendiary bombs, igniting the Second Great Fire. Amidst the chaos, the city's spirit shone brilliantly as everyday citizens and firefighters battled against the crimson inferno. St. Paul's Cathedral, an iconic symbol of London's endurance, stood besieged by flames. Fire watchers, perched like vigilant sentinels, braved the falling embers to prevent its destruction. Across the city, men and women formed human chains, passing buckets of water under the glow of a blood-red sky. Amidst the inferno, these brave souls navigated streets choked with smoke, their faces grim yet determined, saving countless lives and heritage sites.  The firefighters' uniforms, stained with soot and sweat, worked tirelessly as their hoses spat feeble streams against the mighty fires, exacerbated by a dire water shortage. Yet, they persisted, their courage as unyielding as the stone of the city they protected. Refusing ...

 OTD December 29th is the 363rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 2 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 1170 – Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II; he subsequently becomes a saint and martyr in the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church. 1607 – According to John Smith, Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh, successfully pleads for his life after tribal leaders attempt to execute him. 1845 – The United States annexes the Republic of Texas and admits it as the 28th state. 1890 – On Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, 300 Lakota are killed by the United States 7th Cavalry Regiment. 1913 – Cecil B. DeMille starts filming Hollywood's first feature film, The Squaw Man. 1937 – The Irish Free State is replaced by a new state called Ireland with the adoption of a new constitution. 1940 – In the Second Great Fire of London, the Luftwaffe fire bombs London, ...

  On December 28, 1895, Paris witnessed a revolutionary spectacle as the Lumière brothers, Auguste and Louis, held the world's first commercial movie screening at the Grand Cafe's Salon Indien. This marked the inception of modern cinema. Coming from a family deeply entrenched in photographic technology, the brothers were not just inventors but visionaries who sought to capture life in motion. Their first film, "La Sortie de l'Usine Lumière à Lyon" (Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory), was a seemingly mundane but profoundly impactful 46-second clip showing employees leaving the Lumière factory. Despite its simplicity, the film mesmerized viewers with its portrayal of moving human figures, offering a slice of everyday life through a groundbreaking new medium. This initial showcase of ten short films, featuring everyday scenes like a baby's meal and a humorous snippet titled "L'Arroseur Arrosé" (The Sprinkler Sprinkled), illuminated the screen with...

 OTD December 28th is the 362nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 3 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 1065 – Edward the Confessor's Romanesque monastic church at Westminster Abbey is consecrated. 1795 – The construction of Yonge Street, formerly recognized as the longest street in the world, begins in York, Upper Canada (present-day Toronto). 1832 – John C. Calhoun became the first vice president of the United States to resign. He resigned after being elected Senator from South Carolina. 1835 – Osceola leads his Seminole warriors in Florida into the Second Seminole War against the United States Army. 1895 – Wilhelm Röntgen published a paper detailing his discovery of a new type of radiation, which later will be known as x-rays. 1902 – The Syracuse Athletic Club defeated the New York Philadelphians, 5–0, in the first indoor professional football game held at Madison Square Garden. 1912 – The first municipally owned streetcars take to the ...

 OTD  December 27th is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 4 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 537 – The second Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is consecrated. 1657 – The Flushing Remonstrance articulates for the first time in North American history that freedom of religion is a fundamental right. 1703 – Portugal and England signed the Methuen Treaty, which allowed Portugal to export wines to England on favorable trade terms. 1831 – Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard HMS Beagle, during which he will begin formulating his theory of evolution. 1845 – Having coined the phrase "manifest destiny" the previous July, journalist John L. O'Sullivan argued in his New York Morning News newspaper that the United States had the right to claim the entire Oregon Country. 1911 – "Jana Gana Mana," the national anthem of India, is first sung in the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress. 1927 – Kern and Hammerstein's play Showb...

  In the early 16th century, the Zwickau Prophets, Nikolaus Storch, Thomas Dreschel, and Markus Stübner, emerged as radical figures from Zwickau in the Electorate of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire. They were known for their spiritualism, prioritizing divine revelations over Scripture and opposing infant baptism. The trio went to Wittenberg in 1521, seeking more significant reforms and initially finding favor among some like Andreas Karlstadt. However, their presence and radical ideas led to unrest, prompting Philipp Melanchthon to summon Martin Luther from his protective custody at Wartburg Castle. Luther's return marked a critical turning point. He delivered powerful sermons against the radical spiritualism of the Zwickau Prophets, labeling them as "Fanatics" and challenging them to prove their divine inspiration, which they couldn't. The inability to authenticate their claims and Luther's forceful rebuttals diminished their influence, leading to their denunciation of...

      On December 26, 2004, a colossal undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1–9.3 Mw struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, unleashing massive tsunamis radiating across the Indian Ocean. The immense waves, reaching 100 feet, obliterated coastal communities and reshaped landscapes and societies in fourteen countries, including Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The disaster, known for its unprecedented scale and devastation, claimed the lives of an estimated 227,898 people, making it one of the deadliest natural calamities in recorded history.  The world watched in horror as vivid images of destruction and human suffering emerged: entire villages swept away, families torn apart, and once vibrant tourist destinations turned into ground zeroes of despair. The international community responded swiftly, with a massive outpouring of aid. Rescue teams, clothed in rich hues of orange and blue uniforms, worke...

  OTD December 26th is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 5 days remain until the end of the year.   Events 887 – Berengar I is elected as king of Italy by the lords of Lombardy. He is crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia. 1709 – The opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel premiered in Venice. 1723 – Bach led the first performance of Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, his first Christmas Cantata composed for Leipzig. 1776 – American Revolutionary War: In the Battle of Trenton, the Continental Army attacked and successfully defeated a garrison of Hessian forces. 1799 – Henry Lee III's eulogy to George Washington in Congress declares him as "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." 1860 – The First Rules derby is held between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C., the oldest football fixture in the world. 1871 – Thespis, the first Gilbert and Sullivan collaboration, debuts. 1898 – Marie...

  As the frosty winds of December 1776 howled through the fledgling American colonies, General George Washington, the resolute commander of the Continental Army, faced a moment of reckoning. The Revolutionary War was at a bleak point, with morale plummeting and enlistments nearing their end. In this dire hour, Washington conceived an audacious plan that would forever alter the course of American history—a stealthy assault on the Hessian forces stationed in Trenton, New Jersey, on the misty morning of December 26th.  Washington and his band of weary soldiers prepared for what seemed an impossible feat as the world lay in wintry silence on Christmas night. The Delaware River, a formidable icy barrier between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, lay ahead of them, its currents swift and treacherous. Undeterred by the daunting challenge, Washington rallied his troops, their spirits ignited by the flickering hope of a daring strike that could reignite the cause of liberty.  As the nig...

 OTD  December 25th is the 359th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 6 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 274 – A temple to Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian. 336 – First documentary sign of Christmas celebration in Rome. 800 – The coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in Rome. 1492 – The carrack Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, runs onto a reef off Haiti due to an improper watch. 1758 – Halley's Comet is sighted by Johann Georg Palitzsch, confirming Edmund Halley's prediction of its passage. This was the first passage of a comet predicted ahead of time. 1776 – George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day. 1914 – A series of unofficial truces occur across the Western Front to celebrate Christmas. 1950 – The Stone of Scone, a traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, is taken from Westmin...

     In the heart of bustling 1897 Manhattan, a young girl named Virginia O'Hanlon felt the encroaching shadows of doubt about the jolly, generous figure of Santa Claus. As snowflakes danced like cotton fairies outside her window, Virginia did what any inquisitive soul would do; she sought the truth. Pen in hand, she composed a letter that would journey into the annals of Christmas history, addressed to the New York Sun, imploring, "Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?"  The letter reached Francis Pharcellus Church, a seasoned editor whose heart still held a flicker of childhood's magic. On September 21, 1897, the Sun published his reply, a warm, wise editorial that would echo through the ages. "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus," he wrote. He spoke not of a single man in a red suit but of a sweeping spirit of generosity and love that enveloped the world like a cozy winter blanket. He assured Virginia that Santa is as accurate and abiding as...

 OTD December 24th is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 7 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 1777 – Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, was discovered by James Cook. 1814 – Representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812. 1818 – The first "Silent Night" performance occurs in the Nikolauskirche in Oberndorf, Austria. 1871 – The opera Aida premieres in Cairo, Egypt. 1914 – World War I: The "Christmas truce" begins. 1929 – A four-alarm fire breaks out in the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C. 1968 – Apollo program: The crew of Apollo 8 enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed ten lunar orbits and broadcast live TV pictures.   Birthdays 1596 – Leonaert Bramer, Dutch painter (d. 1674) 1754 – George Crabbe, English priest, surgeon, and poet (d. 1832) 1809 – Kit Carson, American general (d...

 On December 23, 1783, a profound silence enveloped the Maryland State House as George Washington, the victorious commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, prepared to resign his commission. This act was not merely a formal procedure but a defining moment of American character and democracy that continues to echo throughout history.  In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the newly formed United States of America was a nation teetering on the brink of potential chaos. It was a time when victorious generals in history would often seize power or assert control. Yet, Washington, with a firm understanding of the delicate experiment in democracy that he had fought for, chose a different path.  Dressed in his military uniform, Washington addressed the Congress with a speech that was both a farewell and a testament to his unwavering dedication to American republicanism. His words were not merely rhetoric; they embodied American ideals. Washington's resignation set a preced...

 OTD December 23rd is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 8 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 962 – The Sack of Aleppo as part of the Arab–Byzantine wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo. 1688 – As part of the Glorious Revolution, King James II of England flees from England to Paris, France, after being deposed in favor of his son-in-law and nephew, William of Orange, and his daughter Mary. 1783 – George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland. 1815 – The novel Emma by Jane Austen is first published. 1893 – The opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck is first performed. 1913 – President Woodrow Wilson signed The Federal Reserve Act into law, creating the Federal Reserve System. 1947 – The transistor is first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories. 1954 – J. Hartwell Harrison and Joseph Murray per...

In the annals of Enlightenment thought, few scholars shine as brightly as Hermann Samuel Reimarus, a pioneering figure in biblical criticism and religious philosophy. Born on December 22, 1694, in Hamburg, Germany, Reimarus was nurtured in an environment ripe for intellectual curiosity. His father, a clergy member, instilled in him a deep respect for education and religious studies. Reimarus's academic journey began at the Gymnasium in Hamburg, followed by a profound engagement with philosophy and oriental languages at the University of Jena and the University of Wittenberg.  Reimarus's work was driven by a relentless pursuit of truth and an unwavering commitment to rational inquiry. He embodied the Enlightenment spirit, challenging traditional religious doctrines with a critical eye and a rationalist approach. His magnum opus, "Apologie oder Schutzschrift für die vernünftigen Verehrer Gottes" (Apology or Defense for the Rational Worshippers of God), remained a closel...

 OTD December 22nd is the 356th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 9 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 856 – Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan killed an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history. 1788 – Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty. 1807 – The Embargo Act, forbidding trade with all foreign countries, was passed by the U.S. Congress at the urging of President Thomas Jefferson. 1808 – Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto, and Choral Fantasy. 1851 – The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., burns. 1891 – Asteroid 323 Brucia becomes the first asteroid discovered using photography. 1937 – The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in New York City. 1944 – World War II: Battle of the Bulge: Ge...

   In the pantheon of British politics, few figures shine as brightly as Benjamin Disraeli, a man whose legacy is as vivid as the colorful life he led. Born on December 21, 1804, in London, Disraeli's story is a tapestry woven with the threads of brilliance, ambition, and resilience. His Jewish heritage, unique in the annals of British political history, made him an outsider. Yet, he transformed this potential barrier into a stepping stone to the zenith of political power through sheer force of personality and intellect.  Disraeli's early life was steeped in the rich hues of literature and culture. Baptized into the Anglican Church at age 12, he bridged the worlds of Jewish ancestry and Christian society. His literary career, blooming in his twenties, painted vivid portraits of Victorian society. His novels, such as "Coningsby" and "Sybil," were not mere stories but mirrors held up to society, reflecting its complexities and disparities with a writer’s keen ...

 OTD December 21st is the 355th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 10 days remain until the end of the year.  Events AD 69 – The Roman Senate declares Vespasian emperor of Rome, the last in the Year of the Four Emperors. 1620 – Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims land near what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 1826 – American settlers in Nacogdoches, Mexico, Texas, declared independence, starting the Fredonian Rebellion. 1861 – Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is lawfully signed by President Abraham Lincoln. 1883 – The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment, the first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army, are formed. 1913 – Arthur Wynne's "word-cross," the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World. 1937 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world's first full-length animated...

 OTD December 20th is the 354th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 11 days remain until the end of the year.  Events 1192 – Richard I of England is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England after the Third Crusade. 1803 – The Louisiana Purchase is completed at a ceremony in New Orleans. 1860 – South Carolina became the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession. 1915 – World War I: The last Australian troops were evacuated from Gallipoli. 1940 – Captain America Comics #1, containing the first appearance of the superhero Captain America, is published. 1946 – It's a Wonderful Life premieres at the Globe Theatre in New York to mixed reviews. 1951 – The EBR-1 in Arco, Idaho, became the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity—the electricity-powered four light bulbs. 1989 – The United States' invasion of Panama deposes Manuel Noriega. 2007 – Elizabe...