December 4
December 4 is the 339th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 27 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 4 the Sun's declination is approximately -22.6°. 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 4.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Christian feast day: Ada
- Christian feast day: Anno II
- Christian feast day: Barbara, and its related observances: Barbórka, Miners' Day in Poland
- Christian feast day: Barbara, and its related observances: Eid il-Burbara, a holiday similar to Halloween in honor of Saint Barbara. (Russia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey)
- Christian feast day: Bernardo degli Uberti
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2025 — Yasser Abu Shabab is assassinated near Rafah, Gaza Strip. ↗(1 years ago)more
On 4 December 2025, clashes between the Abu Suneima family and the Israeli-backed Popular Forces militia took place near Rafah in the Gaza Strip which resulted in the subsequent death of Yasser Abu Shabab, the leader of the Popular Forces.
- 2024 — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is shot and killed in Manhattan, New York City near the entrance of the New York Hilton Midtown. ↗(2 years ago)
more
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is an American multinational for-profit company based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, specializing in health insurance and health care services. Selling insurance products under UnitedHealthcare, and health care services under the Optum brand, it is the world's seventh-largest company by revenue and the largest health care comp...
2021 — Semeru on the Indonesian island of Java erupts, killing at least 68 people. ↗(5 years ago)more
Semeru is the highest mountain on the Indonesian island of Java and an active volcano located in the province of East Java in a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian Plate subducts under the Eurasian Plate. Semeru is 3,676 m tall at its peak, making it the third tallest volcano in Indonesia.
2017 — The Thomas Fire starts near Santa Paula in California. It eventually became the largest wildfire in modern California history to date after burning 1,140 square kilometers (440 sq mi) in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. ↗(9 years ago)more
The Thomas Fire was a massive wildfire that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and one of multiple wildfires that ignited in Southern California in December 2017. It burned approximately 281,893 acres before being fully contained on January 12, 2018, making it the largest wildfire in modern California history at the time.
- 2015 — A firebomb is thrown into a restaurant in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, killing 17 people. ↗(11 years ago)
more
On December 4, 2015, a molotov cocktail was thrown into the El Sayad restaurant in Cairo, Egypt. The restaurant fire killed 17 people, and wounded six. The restaurant was also a nightclub and was located in the Agouza district of the city.
2014 — Islamic insurgents kill three state police at a traffic circle before taking an empty school and a 'press house' in Grozny. Ten state forces die with 28 injured in gun battles ending with ten insurgents killed. ↗(12 years ago)more
The Caucasus Emirate, also known as the Caucasian Emirate, Emirate of Caucasus, or Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus, was a jihadist organisation active in rebel-held parts of Syria and previously in the North Caucasus region of Russia.
- 2006 — Six black youths assault a white teenager in Jena, Louisiana. ↗(20 years ago)
more
The Jena Six were six black teenagers in Jena, Louisiana, United States, convicted in the 2006 beating of Justin Barker, a white student at the local Jena High School, which they also attended. Barker was injured on December 4, 2006, by the members of the Jena Six, and received treatment at an emergency room.
2005 — Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy and call on the government to allow universal and equal suffrage. ↗(21 years ago)more
On 4 December 2005, tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protested for democracy and called on the Government to allow universal and equal suffrage. The protesters demanded the right to directly elect the Chief Executive and all the seats of the Legislative Council.
1998 — The Unity Module, the second module of the International Space Station, is launched. ↗(28 years ago)more
Unity, also known as Node 1, is the first U.S.-built component of the International Space Station (ISS). This cylindrical module, constructed of steel by Boeing for NASA, serves as the critical link between the orbiting laboratory's Russian Orbital Segment and US Orbital Segment.
1992 — Somali Civil War: President George H. W. Bush orders 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa. ↗(34 years ago)more
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Barre during the 1980s. From 1988 to 1990, the Somali Armed Forces began engaging in combat against various armed rebel groups, including the Somali Salvation Democratic Front in the northeast, the Somali Nati...
1991 — Terry A. Anderson is released after seven years in captivity as a hostage in Beirut; he is the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon. ↗(35 years ago)more
Terry Alan Anderson was an American journalist and combat veteran. He reported for the Associated Press. In 1985, he was taken hostage by Shia Hezbollah militants of the Islamic Jihad Organization in Lebanon and held until 1991. In 2004, he ran unsuccessfully for the Ohio State Senate.
1991 — Pan American World Airways ceases its operations after 64 years. ↗(35 years ago)more
Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and more commonly known as Pan Am, was an airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial flag carrier of the United States for much of the 20th century.
Notable births
2003 — Jackson Holliday, American baseball player ↗(23 years ago)more
Jackson Matthew Holliday is an American professional baseball infielder for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected first overall by the Orioles in the 2022 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2024. He is the son of former MLB All-Star Matt Holliday.
2003 — Kim Do-ah, South Korean singer and actress ↗(23 years ago)more
Kim Do-ah, also known by the mononym Doah, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and actress. She was a member of South Korean girl group, Fanatics and its sub-unit, Fanatics-Flavor until their disbandment in 2024. She is known for her participation in Produce 48 and Girls Planet 999.
- 2002 — María Dueñas, Spanish violinist and composer ↗(24 years ago)
more
María Dueñas Fernández, is a Spanish violinist and composer. In 2021 she won the first prize in the Yehudi Menuhin Competition, in the Senior Division. She is considered the Spanish violinist with the greatest international profile, and one of the most promising musicians of her generation. In 2022, she signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon.
1999 — Kim Do-yeon, South Korean singer and actress ↗(27 years ago)more
Kim Do-yeon, known mononymously as Doyeon, is a South Korean singer and actress signed under Fantagio. She is best known as a contestant on the Mnet reality show Produce 101, as a member of the resulting group I.O.I, and subsequently as a member of Weki Meki. In 2018, she appeared on Law of the Jungle and made her acting debut in the drama Short (2018).
1999 — Kang Mi-na, South Korean actress and singer ↗(27 years ago)more
Kang Mi-na, known mononymously as Mina, is a South Korean actress, singer and rapper. She is best known for finishing ninth in Mnet's K-pop girl group survival show Produce 101. She is a former member of the girl groups I.O.I and Gugudan, as well as its subgroups 5959 and SeMiNa.
1996 — Diogo Jota, Portuguese footballer (died 2025) ↗(30 years ago)more
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, commonly known as Diogo Jota, was a Portuguese professional footballer who played as a forward and winger. He was known for his finishing, pace, dribbling ability, and work rate.
Notable deaths
2024 — Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Swedish royal (born 1937) ↗(2 years ago)more
Princess Birgitta of Sweden was a member of the Swedish royal family. She was the second child of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and an elder sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf.
2022 — Bob McGrath, American singer and actor (born 1932) ↗(4 years ago)more
Robert Emmett McGrath was an American actor, singer, and children's author best known for playing original human character and music teacher Bob Johnson on the educational television series Sesame Street from 1969 to 2016.
2022 — Patrick Tambay, French race car driver (born 1949) ↗(4 years ago)more
Patrick Daniel Tambay was a French racing driver, broadcaster and politician, who competed in Formula One from 1977 to 1986. Tambay won two Formula One Grands Prix across nine seasons.
2017 — Shashi Kapoor, Indian actor (born 1938) ↗(9 years ago)more
Shashi Kapoor was an Indian actor and producer known primarily for his work in Hindi films. He is considered as one of the greatest actors in the history of Hindi cinema, and is a recipient of several accolades, including four National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards.
2016 — Patricia Robins, British writer and WAAF officer (born 1921) ↗(10 years ago)more
Patricia Robins was a British writer of short stories and over 80 novels, mainly romance, from 1934 to 2016. She also signed under the pseudonym Claire Lorrimer; she had sold more than ten million copies. She served as Women's Auxiliary Air Force officer during World War II tracking Nazi bombers.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (339) | 3 × 113 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (27) | 3^3 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 04122026 · next palindrome year: 2140 |
| Sun declination | -22.58° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 16 days |