World Events Today
- The London Coliseum opened, as the London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties, today in 1904
- The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan today in 1979, it was the start of the Soviet–Afghan War which lasted nine years
- The Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani, was named as “Person of the Year” by Time Magazine today in 2001, it was in recognition of his leadership after the 9/11 attacks
Entertainment Events Today
- The Christmas carol Silent Night, composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, was sung for the first time today in 1818, at Saint Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria
- Aida, the opera by Giuseppe Verdi, premiered today in 1871 in Cairo’s Khedivial Opera House
- The Argentine football legend Alfredo Di Stéfano, who helped Real Madrid win the first 5 European Cups, was awarded the Super Ballon d’Or today in 1989, as of 2020 no other player has ever received the award
Family Events Today
- The English brothel madam Cynthia Payne, was born today in 1932 in Sussex
- The American novelist and movie producer Stephenie Meyer, author of the best-selling Twilight series, was born today in 1973 in Connecticut
- After working on the set of the Days of Thunder movie together, actor Tom Cruise and actress Nicole Kidman married today in 1990
Main Event Today
- Cyclone Tracy started to hit the city of Darwin in Australia today in 1974, it destroyed more than 70% of all the buildings including 80% of all the houses
National Day Today
- Today, it’s National Eggnog Day