Winter Solstice: Pilgrims, Princesses, and Planets!
Welcome to December 21st, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere! That means we have lots of darkness outside, but history is shining bright with amazing events. Today we celebrate brave explorers landing on new shores, a princess (who was actually a movie star!), and a massive leap for space travel. Get ready for some truly cool history!
Talk about a milestone day! On this date, the Pilgrims found a new home, Walt Disney showed the world what a full-length cartoon could be, and humans left Earth to orbit the Moon for the very first time. It’s a day where new beginnings on Earth met a giant step into the cosmos!
What Happened on This Day
Pilgrims Land at Plymouth Rock!
After a long, chilly voyage across the Atlantic on the *Mayflower*, a group of English settlers we now call the Pilgrims finally spotted land! They landed near a big, famous boulder called Plymouth Rock in what is now Massachusetts. Imagine being stuck on a wooden ship for months—this landing was a huge moment for them. They were ready to start building their new lives, even if the first winter was super tough.
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Phileas Fogg Wins His Crazy Wager!
Did you know that a fictional adventurer proved a wild bet right on this day? Phileas Fogg, from the book *Around the World in Eighty Days*, had bet he could circle the entire globe in just 80 days! He crossed oceans by steamship and even rode an elephant. He famously won the bet by realizing that by traveling eastward, he gained a whole hour. What a way to win a bet—thanks, Jules Verne!
Radium: The Glow-in-the-Dark Discovery
Science breakthrough time! On this day, Marie and Pierre Curie announced they had successfully discovered a brand-new element: Radium! This element was special because it was radioactive, meaning it naturally gave off energy and light. They worked super hard, processing tons of messy ore to find this tiny bit of glowing material. This discovery was a giant leap for understanding atoms and led to future medical uses.
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Snow White Takes Center Stage!
Get ready for the ultimate fairy tale moment! On this day in 1937, Walt Disney premiered *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs*. This wasn't just any cartoon; it was the *first ever* full-length, hand-drawn animated feature film! People weren't sure if audiences would sit through a whole movie of just cartoons, but it was a massive hit, proving animation could tell epic stories.
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Apollo 8 Braves the Lunar Night
Strap in for a true adventure! In 1968, the *Apollo 8* mission launched, making history as the first time humans traveled all the way to the Moon! The three astronauts orbited our natural satellite ten times. For the first time ever, people back on Earth saw incredible pictures of the Moon rising over the Earth—an 'Earthrise.' It was a giant leap toward landing on the Moon!
Learn moreFun Facts About December 21
- December 21st is often the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Arthur Wynne published the first crossword puzzle in a newspaper on this day in 1913!
- Charles de Gaulle was elected the first President of France's Fifth Republic on this date in 1958.
- A college basketball game in 1981 went into seven overtimes—that's a *long* game!
A Look Back in Time
December 21st sits right on the cusp of winter, often marking the shortest day of the year when the sun seems farthest away. In 1620, the Pilgrims faced a harsh winter after their landing, setting the stage for the first Thanksgiving. Centuries later, in 1968, the *Apollo 8* crew experienced the ultimate darkness by circling the Moon, bringing back an image of Earth that truly showed everyone how special our planet is. This date mixes harsh beginnings with bold, hopeful leaps into the future.
Born on This Day
Chris Evert
This American superstar dominated the tennis world! Chris Evert won an incredible 18 major singles titles and was known for her incredible focus and stubborn drive on the court.
Samuel L. Jackson
You probably know him from tons of awesome movies! Samuel L. Jackson is a super-versatile American actor famous for his powerful voice and unforgettable characters in action and drama films.
Jane Fonda
Born into a famous acting family, Jane Fonda became an Oscar-winning actress and a very passionate activist for social causes. She showed everyone that you can be a big star and fight for what you believe in!
Kiefer Sutherland
This Canadian actor is famous for playing super-intense secret agent Jack Bauer in the action TV series *24*. He made audiences hold their breath for 24 hours in real-time drama, all while keeping a straight face!