On This Day December 23rd
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 perform the
first successful kidney transplant
1972 – Franco Harris catches the Immaculate Reception to win
the Pittsburgh Steelers their first-ever playoff victory after defeating the
Oakland Raiders.
1986 – Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager,
lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California, becoming the first aircraft to
fly non-stop around the world without aerial or ground refueling.
Birthdays
968 – Emperor Zhenzong of Song, emperor of the Song Dynasty
(d. 1022)
1713 – Maruyama Gondazaemon, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 3rd
Yokozuna (d. 1749)
1790 – Jean-François Champollion, French philologist,
orientalist, and scholar (d. 1832)
1805 – Joseph Smith, American religious leader and founder
of the Latter-Day Saint movement (d. 1844)
1822 – Wilhelm Bauer, German engineer (d. 1875)
1885 – Pierre Brissaud, French illustrator, painter, and
engraver (d. 1964)
1911 – Niels Kaj Jerne, English-Danish physician and
immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1994)
1923 – James Stockdale, American admiral and pilot, Medal of
Honor recipient (d. 2005)
1929 – Chet Baker, American jazz trumpet player, flugelhorn
player, and singer (d. 1988)
1935 – Paul Hornung, American football player and
sportscaster (d. 2020)
1946 – Susan Lucci, American actress
1956 – Dave Murray, English guitarist and songwriter
2002 – Finn Wolfhard, Canadian actor and musician.
Holiday Spotlight
Festivus
The world was made
aware of Festivus in a “Seinfeld” episode. TV Writer Dan O’Keefe’s father,
Daniel O’Keefe, found a reference to an obscure holiday and celebrated it in
1966. At the time, he was researching his book “Stolen Lightning,” which
explored astrology, cults, and paranormal activity. He chose December 23 to celebrate because it was the anniversary of his first date
with his wife.
In the 1997 episode
of “Seinfeld” titled “The Strike,” George Costanza celebrates
Festivus. His father, Frank, created the holiday, and they celebrated it
throughout George’s childhood. Instead of a tree or menorah, an aluminum pole symbolized
Festivus. They’d have a meatloaf dinner as the main course, and afterward, they
had “Feats of Strength” and “Airing of Grievances” traditions. In the latter,
people could bring up what disappointed them about the previous year’s gifts.
Because of the show’s
popularity and the catchphrase “A Festivus for the rest of us,” Festivus took
on a life of its own. People related to the message of inclusion and the
zaniness of it all and created their traditions from it. In 2004, Dan confessed
that the authentic tradition was even more peculiar than on the show. There
wasn’t a pole, but there were airings of grievances that they recorded on a
tape recorder.
In 2009, Dan O’Keefe
gave further insight into the famous catchphrase. “A Festivus for the rest of
us” was a family Festivus motto. After the death of his paternal grandmother,
it took on the positive meaning of looking towards the future and a reminder to
appreciate life and the living.
Other Include
Human Light Celebration
Kisan Diwas
Metric Conversion Day
National Christmas Movie Marathon Day
National Pfeffernuesse Day
National Roots Day
Super Saturday
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