December 23
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Birthday of the QueenSilvia, anofficial flag flying day(Sweden)
An official flag flying day in Sweden marking the birthday of Queen Silvia.
Children's Day(South SudanandSudan)
A day dedicated to celebrating children in South Sudan and Sudan.
ChristianFeast Day:
Abassad(Coptic Church), Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs(Coptic Church), Dagobert II, John Cantius, O Emmanuel, Psote(Coptic Church), Thorlac Thorhallsson, patron saint ofIceland; The last day of preparations beforeChristmas., Victoria, December 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Multiple Christian feast days observed by various denominations on December 23.
Day of all level operational control structures servicemen(Ukraine)
A Ukrainian commemorative day honoring servicemen in operational control structures.
Festivus, a secular holiday made popular by the sitcomSeinfeld
A satirical secular holiday popularized by the sitcom Seinfeld.
HumanLight(Secular humanismin United States)
A humanist holiday celebrating reason, compassion, and humanist values.
Kisan Diwas(Uttar Pradesh,India)
A day celebrating farmers and agriculture in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Night of the Radishes(Oaxaca City, Mexico)
An annual folk art festival of radish carving in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
Tibb's Eve(Newfoundland and Labrador)
A lighthearted pre-Christmas celebration in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Events
The Arian Vandal Kingdom ceases its persecution of Nicene Christianity.
In 484, the Vandal Kingdom led by King Huneric formally ended its persecution of Nicene Christians in North Africa, marking a significant shift in religious tolerance.
Chlothar I is crowned King of the Franks.
On December 23, 558, Chlothar I was crowned King of the Franks, marking the expansion of Merovingian rule across Gaul.
Maya queen Yohl Ik'nal is crowned ruler of Palenque.
In 583, Yohl Ik'nal was crowned queen of the Maya city-state Palenque, becoming one of the few female rulers in ancient Mesoamerica.
The Sack of Aleppo as part of the Arab–Byzantine wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo.
In 962, Byzantine forces under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas stormed and sacked Aleppo, delivering a key victory in the Arab–Byzantine wars.
The Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan defeats a Mamluk army that opposes his invasion into Syria in the Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar near Homs.
In 1299, Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan defeated a Mamluk army at the Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar near Homs, advancing Mongol influence into Syria.
Arauco War: Governor of Chile Martín García Óñez de Loyola is killed in the Battle of Curalaba by Mapuches led by Pelantaru.
During the Arauco War in 1598, Mapuche leader Pelantaru ambushed and killed Governor Martín García Óñez de Loyola at the Battle of Curalaba, igniting a widespread uprising.
As part of the Glorious Revolution, King James II of England flees from England to Paris after being deposed in favor of his son-in-law and nephew, William of Orange and his daughter Mary.
As part of the Glorious Revolution, deposed King James II fled England for France on December 23, 1688, ceding power to William and Mary.
Moscow State Academy of Choreography was founded under the reign of Catherine II. It is the second ballet school in Russia after Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
Founded on December 23, 1773, the Moscow State Academy of Choreography became Russia’s second ballet school, nurturing generations of dancers.
George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
On December 23, 1783, George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, reinforcing civilian control over the military in the new United States.
Births
Emperor Zhenzong of Song
Emperor Zhenzong (968–1022) was the third emperor of China's Song dynasty, reigning from 997 to 1022 and known for consolidating imperial power and promoting Confucian learning.
Louis I
Louis I (1173–1231) was Duke of Bavaria from 1183 to 1231, noted for expanding Wittelsbach territorial power and supporting the Holy Roman Emperor.
Thomas Smith
Sir Thomas Smith (1513–1577) was an English scholar and diplomat, serving as Secretary of State under Edward VI and authoring influential works on republican government.
John Albert I
John Albert I (1525–1576) was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1547 to 1576, known for introducing the Protestant Reformation and promoting cultural exchange in his territories.
Giovanni Battista Crespi
Giovanni Battista Crespi (1573–1632), known as Il Cerano, was an Italian painter, sculptor, and architect instrumental in ushering the Lombard art from Mannerism to the early Baroque.
Severo Bonini
Severo Bonini (1582–1663) was an Italian organist, composer, and music theorist known for his sacred works and contributions to Baroque musical style.
Anna of Saxony
Anna of Saxony (1544–1577) was the only child and heiress of Maurice, Elector of Saxony, and the first wife of William the Silent, Prince of Orange.
Martin Opitz
Martin Opitz (1597–1639) was a German poet and composer, celebrated as the father of Baroque German literature for standardizing poetic language.
Tianqi Emperor
The Tianqi Emperor (1605–1627) was the 16th emperor of the Ming dynasty, whose reign was marked by court intrigue and the rise of the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian.
Deaths
Ming Yuan Di
Emperor of Northern Wei from 409 to 423 who strengthened central authority and promoted Buddhism across northern China.
Huneric
King of the Vandals from 477 to 484 known for his staunch Arianism and persecution of Catholic Christians in North Africa.
Gabriel of Beth Qustan
7th-century bishop of Beth Qustan and revered saint in the Syriac Orthodox tradition remembered for his piety and monastic foundations.
Dagobert II
Merovingian king of Austrasia whose brief reign ended with his assassination, later venerated as a martyr and saint.
Gaubald
First bishop of Regensburg in the 8th century who laid the foundations for the diocese’s growth in Bavaria.
Solomon II
9th-century bishop of Constance known for his administrative reforms and support of monastic revival.
Naum of Preslav
Bulgarian missionary and scholar who helped develop the Cyrillic script and advance Slavic literacy.
Conrad I
Duke of Franconia and first elected king of East Francia (Germany), reigning from 911 until his death in 918.
Ar-Radi
Twentieth Abbasid caliph who held the title under Buyid control during a period of political fragmentation in the Islamic world.