December 9
December 9 is the 344th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 22 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 9 the Sun's declination is approximately -23.0°. 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 9.
Position in the year
Holidays & observances
- Anna's Day, marks the day to start the preparation process of the lutefisk to be consumed on Christmas Eve, as well as a Swedish name day, celebrating all people named Anna. (Sweden and Finland)
- Armed Forces Day (Peru)
- Christian feast day: Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by St. Anne (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: Hannah (biblical figure) (Eastern Orthodox Church)
- Christian feast day: Juan Diego
Events
A selection of widely-documented historical events that took place on this date. Years marked BCE follow standard astronomical convention.
2021 — Fifty-five people are killed and more than 100 injured when a truck with 160 migrants from Central America overturned in Chiapas, Mexico. ↗(5 years ago)more
Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest.
2019 — A volcano on Whakaari / White Island, New Zealand, kills 22 people after it erupts. ↗(7 years ago)more
Whakaari / White Island, also known as White Island or Whakaari, is an active andesite stratovolcano situated 48 km (30 mi) from the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. The island covers an area of approximately 325 ha, which is just the peak of a much larger submarine volcano.
2017 — The Marriage Amendment Bill receives royal assent and comes into effect, making Australia the 26th country to legalize same-sex marriage. ↗(9 years ago)more
The Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017 (Cth) is an act of the Parliament of Australia, which legalises same-sex marriage in Australia by amending the Marriage Act 1961 to allow marriage between two persons of marriageable age, regardless of their gender.
2016 — President Park Geun-hye of South Korea is impeached by the country's National Assembly in response to a major political scandal. ↗(10 years ago)more
Park Geun-hye is a South Korean politician who served as the 11th president of South Korea from 2013 until her removal from office in 2017. A member of then Saenuri Party and the eldest daughter of the third president, Park Chung Hee, she was the first woman in the country and the first in East Asia to be elected as head of state.
2016 — At least 57 people are killed and a further 177 injured when two schoolgirl suicide bombers attack a market area in Madagali, Adamawa, Nigeria in the Madagali suicide bombings. ↗(10 years ago)more
Madagali or Madagli is a town and local government area in Adamawa State, Nigeria, adjacent to the border with Cameroon.
2013 — At least seven are dead and 63 are injured following a train accident near Bintaro, Indonesia. ↗(13 years ago)more
The 2013 Bintaro rail crash occurred on 9 December 2013 when a KRL Commuterline train crashed into a Pertamina gasoline tanker at a railroad crossing in Bintaro, Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday morning, causing at least one female-only carriage to overturn and burst into flames. At least 7 people were killed and another 63 were wounded in the crash.
2012 — A plane crash in Mexico kills seven people including singer Jenni Rivera. ↗(14 years ago)more
On 9 December 2012, a Learjet 25 business jet carrying five passengers including American singer Jenni Rivera crashed south of Monterrey, Mexico, minutes after taking off from the city's international airport. All aboard, including two crew members, were killed.
2008 — Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich is arrested by federal officials for crimes including attempting to sell the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. ↗(18 years ago)more
The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state.
2006 — Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-116 carrying the P5 truss segment of the International Space Station. ↗(20 years ago)more
The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011.
2003 — A blast in the center of Moscow kills six people and wounds several more. ↗(23 years ago)more
The 2003 Red Square bombing was the 9 December 2003 suicide bombing on Mohovaja street in Moscow.
1996 — Gwen Jacob is acquitted of committing an indecent act, giving women the right to be topless in Ontario, Canada. ↗(30 years ago)more
In Canada, topfreedom has primarily been an attempt to combat the interpretation of indecency laws that considered a woman's breasts to be indecent, and therefore their exhibition in public an offence. In British Columbia, it is a historical issue dating back to the 1930s and the public protests against the materialistic lifestyle held by the radical reli...
1992 — American troops land in Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. ↗(34 years ago)more
Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. Stretching across the Horn of Africa, it borders Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, and the Indian Ocean to the east. Somalia has the longest coastline on Africa's mainland.
Notable births
2005 — Ni-Ki, Japanese singer ↗(21 years ago)more
Nishimura Riki , known professionally as Ni-Ki, is a Japanese singer and dancer based in South Korea. He is a member of the boy band Enhypen under Belift Lab, formed through the reality survival show I-Land in 2020.
2003 — Yuna, South Korean rapper, singer and dancer ↗(23 years ago)more
Shin Yu-na, known mononymously as Yuna, is a South Korean singer, dancer, rapper, and actress. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Itzy, formed by JYP Entertainment in 2019. She made her acting debut in 2026 in Undercover Miss Hong and is set to appear in Favorite Employee. Yuna released her solo debut extended play (EP), Ice Cream, in March 2026.
2000 — Diāna Ņikitina, Latvian figure skater ↗(26 years ago)more
Diāna Ņikitina is a Latvian former figure skater. She is the 2017 Golden Bear of Zagreb champion, the 2018 Cup of Tyrol silver medalist, and the 2018 Latvian national champion. She competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, placing 26th.
1997 — Harvey Barnes, English footballer ↗(29 years ago)more
Harvey Lewis Barnes is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Newcastle United and the England national team.
1996 — Mackenzie Blackwood, Canadian ice hockey player ↗(30 years ago)more
Mackenzie Blackwood is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Blackwood was the top-rated North American goaltender ranked in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's final rankings for the 2015 NHL entry draft.
1996 — Kyle Connor, American ice hockey player ↗(30 years ago)more
Kyle David Connor is an American professional ice hockey player for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Connor was drafted 17th overall by the Jets in the 2015 NHL entry draft.
Notable deaths
2024 — Nikki Giovanni, American poet, writer and activist (born 1943) ↗(2 years ago)more
Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni Jr. was an American poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator. One of the world's best-known African-American poets, her work includes poetry anthologies, poetry recordings, and nonfiction essays, and covers topics ranging from race and social issues to children's literature.
2022 — Jovit Baldivino, Filipino singer and actor (born 1993) ↗(4 years ago)more
Jovit Lasin Baldivino was a Filipino singer and actor. He was the first winner of the reality talent competition show Pilipinas Got Talent in 2010.
2021 — Speedy Duncan, American football player (born 1942) ↗(5 years ago)more
Leslie Herbert "Speedy" Duncan was an American professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Jackson State Tigers. Duncan played seven seasons with the San Diego Chargers, where he was a three-time AFL All-Star.
2021 — Demaryius Thomas, American football player (born 1987) ↗(5 years ago)more
Demaryius Antwon Thomas was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Denver Broncos. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, earning third-team All-American honors in 2009.
2015 — Soshana Afroyim, Austrian painter (born 1927) ↗(11 years ago)more
Soshana Afroyim was an Austrian painter of the Modernism period. Soshana was a full-time artist and traveled frequently, exhibiting her work internationally. During her journeys, she portrayed many well known personalities and her art developed in different directions.
Numerical & calendrical curiosities
| Day-of-year (344) | 2^3 × 43 · composite (no) |
|---|---|
| Days remaining (22) | 2 × 11 |
| Date code DDMMYYYY | 09122026 · next palindrome year: 2190 |
| Sun declination | -23.04° (Cooper approximation) |
| Distance from solstice | 11 days |