December 20
December 20 is the 355th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 11 days remain until the year's end. It falls in autumn (northern hemisphere) and under the astrological sign of Sagittarius.
External references
Curated jump-off points to the major almanacs, encyclopaedias and primary sources for this date.
Astronomy
On December 20 the Sun's declination is approximately -23.4°. At this latitude the Sun is south of the celestial equator, giving the Northern Hemisphere shorter days than nights.
For specific rise/set times at your location, see the U.S. Naval Observatory, or the NASA APOD archive for any imagery published on a December 20.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana)
- Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar)
- Christian feast day: Dominic of Silos
- Christian feast day: Blessed Michał Piaszczyński
- Christian feast day: O Clavis
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2024 — Six people are killed and over 200 are injured when an anti-Islam activist drives a car into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. ↗(2 years ago)more
On 20 December 2024, an SUV was driven into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing 6 people and injuring 309 others. The driver of the car, allegedly 50-year-old anti-Islam activist Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen, was arrested at the scene. German authorities have described the suspect as an Islamophobe.
2024 — A mass stabbing occurs in a primary school in Zagreb, Croatia, in which a 7-year-old pupil is killed and six more are injured by a knife-wielding 19-year-old male. ↗(2 years ago)more
On 20 December 2024, a mass stabbing occurred at Prečko Elementary School in Zagreb, Croatia. 19-year-old Leonardo Mušančić stabbed seven individuals, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old student. Six others, five students and a teacher, also sustained injuries.
- 2022 — A Vega C rocket carrying two Pléiades Neo satellites fails after liftoff. ↗(4 years ago)
more
Vega C, or Vega Consolidation, is a European expendable, medium-lift launch vehicle developed and produced by Avio. It is an evolution of the original Vega launcher, designed to offer greater launch performance and flexibility.
2019 — The United States Space Force becomes the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces since 1947. ↗(7 years ago)more
The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and was established on 20 December 2019. Part of the United States Department of Defense, it is one of the six armed forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.
2016 — Aerosucre Flight 157 crashes during takeoff from Germán Olano Airport in Puerto Carreño, Colombia, killing five people. ↗(10 years ago)more
Aerosucre Flight 157 was a domestic cargo flight from Germán Olano Airport in Puerto Carreño, Colombia, to El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá. On 20 December 2016, the Boeing 727-2J0F operating the route overran the runway during takeoff, striking the perimeter fence and other obstacles before becoming airborne, ultimately losing control and crashing...
2007 — Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in the history of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years and 243 days. ↗(19 years ago)more
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death.
2007 — The Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904), by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, and O Lavrador de Café by Brazilian modernist painter Cândido Portinari, are stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil. Both will be recovered a few weeks later. ↗(19 years ago)more
Portrait of Suzanne Bloch is an oil on canvas painting executed by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso in Paris in 1904, towards the end of his Blue Period. The subject, Suzanne Bloch, was a singer known for her Wagner interpretations, and the sister of the violinist Henri Bloch. The painting is housed in the São Paulo Museum of Art.
2004 — A gang of thieves steal £26.5 million worth of currency from the Donegall Square West headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, one of the largest bank robberies in British history. ↗(22 years ago)more
On 20 December 2004, £26.5 million in cash was stolen from the headquarters of Northern Bank on Donegall Square West in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Having taken family members of two bank officials hostage, an armed gang forced the workers to help them steal both used and unused pound sterling banknotes.
1999 — Macau is handed over to China by Portugal. ↗(27 years ago)more
Macau or Macao is a special administrative region of China. It consists of the Macau Peninsula, the islands of Taipa and Coloane, the Cotai reclamation zone between Taipa and Coloane, and several smaller islets. It borders Zhuhai to the north and west, and it lies west of Hong Kong, separated by the Pearl River estuary.
1995 — American Airlines Flight 965, a Boeing 757, crashes into a mountain 50 km north of Cali, Colombia, killing 159 of the 163 people on board. ↗(31 years ago)more
American Airlines Flight 965 was a regularly scheduled flight from Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, Colombia. On December 20, 1995, the Boeing 757-200 flying this route crashed into a mountain in Buga, Colombia, around 9:40 pm local time killing 151 of the 155 passengers and all 8 crew...
1991 — A Missouri court sentences the Palestinian militant Zein Isa and his wife Maria to death for the honor killing of their daughter Palestina. ↗(35 years ago)more
Palestina Zein "Tina" Isa was a Brazilian-American teenage girl murdered in an honor killing in St. Louis, Missouri, by her parents, Zein and Maria Isa. Her death was recorded on audiotape during Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) surveillance on Zein Isa due to his association with the Abu Nidal Organization (ANO).
1989 — The United States invasion of Panama deposes Manuel Noriega. ↗(37 years ago)more
The United States invasion of Panama began in mid-December 1989 during the presidency of George H. W. Bush. The purpose of the invasion was to depose the de facto ruler of Panama, General Manuel Noriega, who was wanted by U.S. authorities for racketeering and drug trafficking.
Notable births
2001 — Facundo Pellistri, Uruguayan footballer ↗(25 years ago)more
Facundo Pellistri Rebollo is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Greek Super League club Panathinaikos and the Uruguay national team.
- 2000 — Gaboro, Assyrian Swedish rapper and songwriter (died 2024) ↗(26 years ago)
more
Ninos Moses Khouri, better known as Gaboro, was a Swedish rapper and songwriter.
1998 — Kylian Mbappé, French footballer ↗(28 years ago)more
Kylian Mbappé Lottin is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Real Madrid and captains the France national team. He is known for his pace, dribbling, and clinical finishing, and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world.
1997 — De'Aaron Fox, American basketball player ↗(29 years ago)more
De'Aaron Martez Fox, nicknamed "Swipa", is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being selected fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2017 NBA draft.
1997 — Suzuka Nakamoto, Japanese singer ↗(29 years ago)more
Suzuka Nakamoto , better known by her stage name Su-metal, is a Japanese singer. She is best known as a member of the kawaii metal band Babymetal and was formerly a member of the idol groups Karen Girl's and Sakura Gakuin. She is represented by the talent agency Amuse Inc.
1996 — Jarrod Bowen, English football player ↗(30 years ago)more
Jarrod Bowen is an English professional footballer who plays as a right winger or forward for Premier League club West Ham United, whom he captains, and the England national team. He has previously played for Hereford United and Hull City.
Notable deaths
2024 — Casey Chaos, American singer (born 1965) ↗(2 years ago)more
Karim George Chmielinski, known professionally as Casey Chaos, was an American musician, best known as the lead singer of Amen. His music encompassed a number of styles in the punk and metal genres.
2024 — George Eastham, English footballer (born 1936) ↗(2 years ago)more
George Edward Eastham, OBE was an English footballer who played as a midfielder or inside forward for Newcastle United, Arsenal and Stoke City, as well as being a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad. He is also notable for his involvement in a 1963 court case which proved a landmark in improving players' freedom to move between clubs.
2024 — Rickey Henderson, American baseball player (born 1958) ↗(2 years ago)more
Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson, nicknamed "Man of Steal", was an American professional baseball left fielder who played 25 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four separate tenures with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. He is widely regarded as baseball's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner.
2022 — Franco Harris, American football player (born 1950) ↗(4 years ago)more
Franco Harris was an American professional football player who was a fullback for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 1972 NFL draft.
2020 — Fanny Waterman, British pianist (born 1920) ↗(6 years ago)more
Dame Fanny Waterman was a British pianist and academic piano teacher, who is particularly known as the founder, chair and artistic director of the Leeds International Piano Competition. She was also president of the Harrogate International Music Festival.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (355) | 5 × 71 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (11) | 11 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 20122026 · next palindrome year: 2102 |
| Sun declination | -23.44° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 0 days |