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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