{"id":208410,"date":"2020-01-01T13:49:40","date_gmt":"2020-01-01T13:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.factstoryhub.com\/day\/december-23\/"},"modified":"2024-01-14T00:39:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T00:39:09","slug":"december-23","status":"publish","type":"otd_day","link":"https:\/\/www.factstoryhub.com\/day\/december-23\/","title":{"rendered":"December 23: Facts & Historical Events On This Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 23rd is the day we officially celebrate Roots Day & Pfeffernusse Day.

We are now on the 357^{th day of the year, congratulations for making it this far! There’s only days left until Christmas Day.}

This day in history has been an interesting one! Here you’re going to learn something new about this special day, and what exactly made this day so special.

Did you know that on this day in 1972, the survivors of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 plane crash were rescued? They had been struggling to stay alive for 72 days in a remote part of the Andes mountains.

Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about December 23^{rd in history!\r\n\r\n}

Events\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What memorable events happened on December 23 in history? Keep reading to find out!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
2003\r\n\r\n
A gas explosion occurred in Guoqiao, Kai, Chongqing, China.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A gas well belonging to PetroChina’s Southwest Oil in the Chuandongbei gas field exploded, releasing highly toxic hydrogen sulfide. This incident killed 233 people and injured at least 9,000.\r\n\r\n

\r\nShare\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source

1997\r\n\r\n

Rom-com movie “As Good as It Gets” was released in theaters in the US.\r\n\r\n
$OTD in 1997: Rom-com movie \"As Good as It Gets\" was released in theaters in the US.$ \r\n\r\n
It was written and directed by James L. Brooks and starred Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1994\r\n\r\n
Whitey Bulger, an organized crime boss, fled Boston after fearing arrest from the FBI.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

He successfully hid from law enforcement for 16 years.\r\n\r\n

\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source

1987\r\n\r\n

Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, who was serving a life sentence for the attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford, escaped from Alderson Prison.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1986\r\n\r\n
The first aircraft flew around the world without stopping or refueling.\r\n\r\n
$\"OTD$ \r\n\r\n
The experimental airplane “Voyager” was piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager on a non-stop flight around the world – a journey that took nine days.\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1986\r\n\r\n
The Rutan Voyager became the first plane to fly around the world without stopping for fuel.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, Voyager took off from Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, California, on December 14. The two pilots initially intended to fly in 3-hour shifts, but due to limitations in space, one of the pilots flew for three consecutive days at one point. When Voyager finally landed again, it had just 1.5% of the fuel it started with.\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1972\r\n\r\n
A 6.25 magnitude earthquake destroyed central Managua, Nicaragua, killing about 10,000 people.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1972\r\n\r\n
Plane crash survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 were rescued.\r\n\r\n
$\"OTD$ \r\n\r\n
Sixteen plane crash survivors were rescued after being stranded in the Andes for seventy days. Although 33 of the 45 onboard survived the crash, injuries and severe weather conditions killed many more. Survivors had to resort to cannibalism in order to stay alive.\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1968\r\n\r\n
After eleven months of imprisonment, 83 men from the US Navy were released by North Korea.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a spy ship, was captured along with its crew by the North Korean armed forces. While the US Navy claimed that the Pueblo was outside of North Korea’s waters, North Korea claimed otherwise. The captives were only released after the US signed a statement that they were indeed within North Korea’s territory and that they would never do it again.\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1954\r\n\r\n
The first successful kidney transplant took place at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The procedure was carried out by Dr. Joseph E. Murray, who later won a Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine.\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1954\r\n\r\n
Dr. Joseph E. Murray performed the first human kidney transplant at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1948\r\n\r\n
Cinderella, the first full-length ballet by Frederick Ashton with music by Sergei Prokofiev, was first presented at Covent Garden, London, by Sadler’s Wells Ballet.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1888\r\n\r\n
Vincent van Gogh cut his left ear off with a razor after an argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
He sent it to a prostitute for safekeeping.\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
1815\r\n\r\n
The novel “Emma” by Jane Austen was first published.\r\n\r\n
$OTD in 1815: The novel \"Emma\" by Jane Austen was first published.$ \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
\r\n
583 AD\r\n\r\n
Yohl Ikʼnal ascended to the throne of Palenque, making her the first queen regnant in Maya history.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n Share\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Source
Famous Births\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Are you celebrating your birthday today? If so, did you know that you share the same birthday as Harry Judd? See what other famous people were born on this day.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
2002\r\n\r\n
Finn Wolfhard\r\n\r\n
\r\n
Canadian\r\n\r\n
Actor\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n