✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 356th day of the year

December 22

A look at December 22 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Jean Racine and Giacomo Puccini, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♑ZodiacCapricorn ◈BirthstoneTurquoise ❀Birth flowerHolly
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2010

    Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

    The repeal of the Don't ask, don't tell policy, the 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama.

    US federal law ending
  2. 2008

    Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill

    An ash dike ruptures at a solid waste containment area for a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing 4.2 million m3 (1.1 billion US gal) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in U.S. history.

    2008 environmental disaster in
  3. 2001

    Burhanuddin Rabbani

    Burhanuddin Rabbani, political leader of the Northern Alliance, hands over power in Islamic State of Afghanistan to the interim government headed by President Hamid Karzai.

    President of Afghanistan from
  4. 2001

    Richard Reid

    Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63.

    British terrorist jailed in
  5. 1948

    Sjafruddin Prawiranegara

    Sjafruddin Prawiranegara established the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia (Pemerintah Darurat Republik Indonesia, PDRI) in West Sumatra.

    Indonesian statesman and economist
  6. 1942

    Adolf Hitler

    World War II: Adolf Hitler signs the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon.

    Dictator of Germany from
  7. 1937

    Lincoln Tunnel

    The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in New York City.

    Tunnel between New Jersey
  8. 1808

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy.

    German composer (1770–1827)
  9. 856

    856 Damghan earthquake

    Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan kills an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history.

    Earthquake in Iran
  10. 401

    Pope Innocent I

    Pope Innocent I is elected, the only pope to succeed his father in the office.

    Head of the Catholic
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 22

Jean Racine

b. 1639

French poet and playwright

Giacomo Puccini

b. 1858

Italian composer and educator

Khutughtu Khan Kusala

b. 1300

Mongolian emperor

Eduard Uspensky

b. 1937

Russian author, poet, and playwright

Ralph Fiennes

b. 1962

English actor

Diocletian

b. 244

Roman emperor

Bernd Schuster

b. 1959

German footballer and manager

Vanessa Paradis

b. 1972

French singer-songwriter and actress

Deaths

  • 1989Samuel Beckett, Irish author, poet, and playwright, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1950Frederick Freake, English polo player
  • 1919Hermann Weingärtner, German gymnast
  • 1891Paul de Lagarde, German biblical scholar and orientalist
  • 1530Willibald Pirckheimer, German lawyer and author
  • 69AD 69, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Dongzhi Festival
  • —Armed Forces Day (Vietnam)
  • —Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Eimhin
  • —Christian feast day: Ernan, Son of Eogan
  • —Christian feast day: Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US)
  • —Christian feast day: Hunger
  • —Christian feast day: O Rex

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