December in History

"Tracking the past" is not the same as having a "memory" of the past. 

A tree ring might tell when a big fire happened. 

But the tree wouldn't respond if I asked, "Do you remember the great fire of 1730?" Only humans can share their knowledge of the past.

Below is a collection of past and current events that happened in December in history:

December 1 in History

December 1 of Every Year

* World Aid’s Day is being observed and celebrated.

December 1, 1918

* Iceland was founded. 

[Capital: Reykjavik; Continent: Europe]

December 2 in History

December 2, 1971

* The United Arab Emirates became an independent country. 

[Capital: Abu Dhabi; Ex-colonial master: UK; Continent: Asia]

December 3 in History

December 3 of Every Year

* International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

December 3, 1967

* Christian Barnard performed the world’s first successful human-to-human heart transplant in South Africa.

December 3, 1962

* Edith Sampson became the first African American female judge.

December 4 in History

December 4, 1972

* The National Stadium in Lagos was commissioned.

December 5 in History

December 5, 2013

* Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, died at 95.

December 5, 1926

* Felicia Adetoun Omolara Ogunsheye, the first female professor in Nigeria, was born. She was a professor of library and information science at the University of Ibadan. 

December 6 in History

December 6, 2003

* Queen Elizabeth visited Nigeria for the second time from this date and left on the 8 of December 2003.

December 6, 1980

* Oba Okunade Sijuade became the Ooni of Ife.

December 6, 1917

* Finland was founded. 

[Capital: Helsinki; Continent: Europe]

December 8 in History

December 8, 1997

* Major General Musa Yar-Adua died in jail while serving 25-year jailed term for a coup allegation.

December 9 in History

December 9, 1961

* Tanzania became an independent country. 

[Capital: Dodoma; Ex-colonial master: UK; Continent: Africa]

December 9, 1938

* Theophilus Danjuma, former Nigeria’s minister of defence, was born. 

December 10 in History

December 10, 2005

* A Sosoliso Airlines aircraft crashed in Port Harcourt killing 103 passengers including about 60 students of Loyola Jesuit College Abuja, who were on the flight.qq1

December 10, 1950

* Ralph Bunche became the first African-American man awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

December 10, 1948

* The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was agreed on 10th of December 1948 at the General Assembly of the United Nations to set out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. It is a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.

December 10, 1898

* Cuba became an independent country. 

[Capital: Havana; Ex-colonial master: Spain; Continent: North America]

December 11 in History

December 11, 1946

* The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), formerly known as the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, was created by the United Nations General Assembly.

December 12 in History

December 12, 1991

* General Ibrahim Babangida moved the seat of the Nigerian federal government power from Lagos to Abuja.

December 12, 1963

* Kenya became an independent country. 

[Capital: Nairobi; Ex-colonial master: UK; Continent: Africa]

December 13 in History

December 13, 2003

* Saddam Hussein was captured by American forces.

December 14 in History

December 14, 1918

* British women voted for the first time in a general election and were allowed to run for office.

December 14, 1799

* George Washington, the first president of the United States, died at Mount Vernon.

December 15 in History

December 15, 2010

* Anthony Enahoro, Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activist, died.

December 15, 1995

* European Union leaders announced their new currency would be known as the Euro.

December 15, 1964

* Canada adopted a new national flag featuring a red maple leaf on a white background.

December 16 in History

December 16, 1991

* Kazakhstan was founded. 

[Capital: Astana; Continent: Asia]

December 16, 1971

* Bangladesh became an independent country. 

[Capital: Dhaka; Ex-colonial master: Pakistan; Continent: Asia]

December 16, 1920

* Frederick Rotimi Williams, the first Nigerian to become a senior advocate of Nigeria, was born.

December 17 in History

December 17, 1942

* Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, president of Nigeria, was born.

December 17, 1941

* Chuba Okadigbo, former Senate president of Nigeria, was born.

December 17, 1917

* Kenneth Dike, the first Nigerian Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, was born.

December 19 in History

December 19, 1962

* Bukola Saraki, former Senate president of Nigeria, was born.

December 21 in History

December 21, 1997

* Alleged coup plot against General Abacha led by General Diya.

December 22 in History

December 22, 1982

* Agbani Darego, the first African to win Miss World, was born in Rivers State, Nigeria.

December 23 in History

December 23, 2001

* The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Chief Bola Ige, was assassinated at Ibadan.

December 23, 1947

* Transistor invented at Bell Laboratories by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley.  

December 24 in History

December 24 of Every Year

* Christmas Eve is being observed as a day before Christmas Day (a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ).

December 24, 1951

* Libya became an independent country. 

[Capital: Tripoli; Ex-colonial master: Italy; Continent: Africa]

December 25 in History

December 25 of Every Year

* Christmas Day (a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ) is being observed and celebrated by all Christians. [First use: 12 Century]

December 25, 1981

* Ogun State Television (OGTV) was inaugurated by Chief Olabisi Onabanjo.

December 25, 1970

* Chioma Ajunwa, the first African woman to win the Olympic old medal, was born in Imo State, Nigeria.

December 25, 1842

* The first Christmas celebration in Nigeria was in Badagry.

December 26 in History

December 26 of Every Year

* Boxing Day (a day of gift giving) is being observed and celebrated, a day after Christmas Day.

December 26, 1963

* Bimbo Ashiru, former Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, was born.

December 27 in History

December 27, 1945

* The World Bank was founded in Switzerland.

December 29 in History

December 29, 1920

* Josepha Iloilo, the president of Fiji, was born.

December 29, 1790

* Thomas Fuller, a famous mathematician, also known as a mental calculator due to his skills in mathematics, died. He is an African slave captured and shipped to the USA in 1724 when he was only 14 years old.

December 30 in History

December 30, 1964

* The first national elections were held in independent Nigeria.

December 31 in History

December 31 of Every Year

* New Year’s Eve, the final evening of the Gregorian calendar year traditionally a night for merry making to welcome in the new year, is being observed and celebrated as a holiday on the last day of the year. [First use: 13 Century]

December 31, 1983

* Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) became the Head of State starting from 31 of December 1983 to 27 of August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état. He overthrew the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s government.

December 31, 1891

* Bishop Ajayi Crowther, the first African bishop of the Anglican Communion, died at 89.

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12 Inspiring Famous Quotes for December

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Peruse, pause, and ponder the following twelve (12) inspiring famous quotes to keep you inspired for your daily endeavours in the month of December:

#01

“Each morning when I open my eyes, I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead; tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.”

– Groucho Marx

#02

“Your hand can seize today, but not tomorrow, and thoughts of your tomorrow are nothing but desire. Don’t waste this breath if your heart isn’t crazy, since "the rest of your life" won’t last forever.”

– Omar Khayyám, Quatrains

#03

“Always remember that you were once alone, and the crowds you see in your life today are just as unnecessary as when you were alone.”

– Michael Bassey Johnson

#04

“No matter what your history has been, your destiny is what you create today. What are you going to create?”

– Steve Maraboli

#05

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

– Lao Tzu

#06

“The unhappiest people in this world are those who care the most about what other people think.”

– C. JoyBell C.

#07

“If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past; do not worry about the future; focus on living fully in the present.”

– Roy T. Bennett

#08

“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I'm possible’!”

– Audrey Hepburn

#09

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.”

– Erma Bombeck

#10

“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”

– Joseph Campbell

#11

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

– Jimmy Dean

#12

“I came, I saw, I conquered.”

– Julius Caesar

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