December 27
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
BlessedFrancesco Spoto, BlessedSára Salkaházi, Fabiola, John the Apostle, Pope Maximus of Alexandria, Nicarete, Theodorus and Theophanes, December 27 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
An Eastern Orthodox liturgical feast day honoring a group of saints, from early martyrs to modern blesseds, observed on December 27.
Constitution Day (North Korea)
A national holiday in North Korea marking the adoption of the country’s constitution on December 27, 1972.
Emergency Rescuer's Day(Russia)
A Russian observance honoring the dedication and bravery of emergency rescue personnel in disaster response.
Saint Stephen's Day(Eastern Orthodox Church; a public holiday inRomania)
An Eastern Orthodox feast honoring Saint Stephen, celebrated as a public holiday in Romania the day after Christmas.
The third of theTwelve Days of Christmas(Western Christianity)
The third day of the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas celebration, observed by Western Christian denominations.
BlessedFrancesco Spoto
BlessedSára Salkaházi
Feast day honoring Blessed Sára Salkaházi, a Hungarian nun who sacrificed her life sheltering Jews during World War II.
Fabiola
Feast day celebrating Saint Fabiola, a Roman matron renowned for founding one of the first Western hospitals.
John the Apostle
Feast day commemorating John the Apostle, the “Beloved Disciple” and traditionally credited author of the Gospel of John.
Events
The second Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is consecrated.
The majestic Hagia Sophia church in Constantinople is consecrated, marking a new era of Byzantine architecture.
The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regard to native Indians in the New World.
The Laws of Burgos establish rules for Spanish settlers’ treatment of indigenous peoples in the Americas.
The Zwickau prophets arrive in Wittenberg, disturbing the peace and preaching the Apocalypse.
Radical preachers known as the Zwickau prophets descend on Wittenberg, stirring religious unrest.
Second Northern War/the Deluge: Monks at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa are successful in fending off a month-long siege.
Polish monks defend the Jasna Góra Monastery against Swedish forces during a crucial siege.
The Flushing Remonstrance articulates for the first time in North American history that freedom of religion is a fundamental right.
Colonists in New Netherland issue the Flushing Remonstrance, advocating for religious freedom.
Portugal and England sign the Methuen Treaty which allows Portugal to export wines to England on favorable trade terms.
The Methuen Treaty grants Portugal preferential access to English markets for its wines.
War of 1812: The destruction of the schooner USS Carolina brings to an end Commodore Daniel Patterson's makeshift fleet, which fought a series of delaying actions that contributed to Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans.
USS Carolina is destroyed, concluding a series of naval skirmishes that impacted the Battle of New Orleans.
Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate his theory of evolution.
Naturalist Charles Darwin sets sail on HMS Beagle, initiating voyages that inspire his evolutionary theory.
The worst ever avalanche in England occurs at Lewes, Sussex, killing eight people.
A catastrophic avalanche strikes Lewes in Sussex, resulting in England’s deadliest recorded snow slide.
Births
King of Aragon from 1387 to 1395, known for his passion for hunting and patronage of the arts.
Anne de Mortimer
Member of the English royal lineage with a strong claim to the throne through the Mortimer line.
John I Albert
King of Poland from 1492 to 1501, known for his ambitious military expeditions and efforts to strengthen royal authority.
Casimir
Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth from 1515 until his death, a member of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
Johann Pfeffinger
German Protestant theologian and influential figure of the Reformation.
Jan Jesenius
Bohemian physician, philosopher, and political figure known for performing the first public autopsy in Prague.
Johannes Kepler
German mathematician and astronomer known for formulating the three laws of planetary motion.
Johannes Vodnianus Campanus
Czech poet, playwright, and composer active during the late Renaissance.
Philipp Julius
Duke of Pomerania-Stettin from 1600 to 1625, navigating his duchy through religious and political upheaval.
Deaths
Gaozong of Tang
Gaozong of Tang was the third emperor of the Tang dynasty, guiding China through a period of territorial expansion and cultural flourishing.
Aeneas of Paris
Aeneas of Paris was a Frankish bishop who led the Diocese of Paris during the late 9th century, guiding his flock through political and social upheaval.
Balderic
Balderic served as bishop of Utrecht in the 10th century, overseeing spiritual life and church administration in the Low Countries.
Emma of Blois
Emma of Blois was Duchess of Aquitaine and regent, known for managing her territories and upholding courtly culture during her son’s minority.
Nilus the Younger
Nilus the Younger was a Byzantine abbot and saint who founded the influential Monastery of Grottaferrata near Rome.
Sviatoslav II
Sviatoslav II Yaroslavich was Grand Prince of Kiev who steered the principality through dynastic disputes and maintained its autonomy.
Bertha of Savoy
Bertha of Savoy served as Holy Roman Empress alongside Emperor Henry IV, engaging in imperial and ecclesiastical affairs.
Edmund Mortimer
Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, was an English noble whose death during the Peasants’ Revolt marked a turning point in medieval politics.
Mahmood Shah Bahmani II
Mahmood Shah Bahmani II was the Sultan of the Bahmani Sultanate whose reign saw both cultural flourishing and political fragmentation in the Deccan.