December 28
Overview
Holidays & Observances
Christianfeast day:
Abel(Coptic Church), Caterina Volpicelli, Feast of the Holy Innocentsor Childermas; in Spain and Latin American countries the festival is celebrated with pranks (inocentadas), similar toApril Fools' Day(Catholic Church,Church of England,Lutheran Church), and its related observances:Els Enfarinats(Ibi, Spain), Simon the Athonite, December 28 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Several Christian traditions honor saints and martyrs on December 28, ranging from ancient Coptic commemorations to playful Childermas celebrations in Spain and Latin America.
King Taksin Memorial Day(Thailand)
A national holiday in Thailand honoring King Taksin the Great, celebrated annually on December 28.
Proclamation Day (South Australia), celebration started on the day followingChristmas(South Australia)
A South Australian public holiday marking the proclamation of government in 1836, observed on December 28.
Republic Day (South Sudan)
South Sudan’s Republic Day honors the nation’s official independence declared on December 28, 2018.
The fourth of theTwelve Days of Christmas(Western Christianity)
The fourth day in the Twelve Days of Christmas, a festive Christian tradition spanning December 25 to January 5.
Abel(Coptic Church)
A feast day in the Coptic Orthodox Church honoring Saint Abel on December 28.
Caterina Volpicelli
Feast day celebrating Blessed Caterina Volpicelli, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart.
Feast of the Holy Innocentsor Childermas; in Spain and Latin American countries the festival is celebrated with pranks (inocentadas), similar toApril Fools' Day(Catholic Church,Church of England,Lutheran Church), and its related observances:
Els Enfarinats(Ibi, Spain)
Commemorates the biblical massacre of children in Bethlehem, marked by solemn remembrance and playful pranks in some cultures.
Simon the Athonite
Feast day of Saint Simon the Athonite, commemorated on December 28 in Orthodox Christian traditions.
Events
A papal election begins, resulting in the election of Pope Boniface I.
A pivotal papal election that installed Boniface I as Bishop of Rome during the early 5th century.
Majorian is acclaimed as Western Roman emperor.
General Majorian was proclaimed Western Roman Emperor by his legions in Gaul.
Alaric II succeeds his father Euric and becomes king of the Visigoths. He establishes his capital at Aire-sur-l'Adour (Southern Gaul).
Alaric II ascended to the Visigothic throne and established his capital at Aire-sur-l'Adour.
An earthquake destroys the city of Dvin, Armenia.
A devastating earthquake struck Dvin in Armenia, obliterating much of the city.
Edward the Confessor's Romanesque monastic church at Westminster Abbey is consecrated.
King Edward the Confessor consecrated his new Romanesque monastic church at Westminster Abbey.
The reign of Emperor Hanazono of Japan begins.
Emperor Hanazono ascended the Japanese throne, marking the start of his reign during the Kamakura period.
The Marathas defeat the Adilshahi forces in the Battle of Kolhapur.
Maratha forces secured a decisive victory against the Adilshahi army at Kolhapur.
King Taksin's coronation achieved through conquest as a king of Thailand and established Thonburi as a capital.
General Taksin was crowned King of Siam and founded Thonburi as the new capital.
Construction of Yonge Street, formerly recognized as the longest street in the world, begins in York, Upper Canada (present-day Toronto).
Construction began on Yonge Street in York, Upper Canada, destined to become the world’s longest street.
Births
Louise of Savoy
French nun known for her devotion and service to her religious community in late 15th-century France.
Nicholas Bacon
English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under Queen Elizabeth I.
Martin Eisengrein
German theologian and Catholic reformer active during the Counter-Reformation.
Antoine Furetière
French author, lexicographer and member of the Académie française, best known for his Universal Dictionary.
Elizabeth Stuart
Second daughter of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria, an English princess during the Civil War era.
Johann Krieger
German Baroque composer and organist known for his keyboard sonatas and sacred music.
Charles Cornwallis
English nobleman and politician who served as Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk in the late 17th century.
George FitzRoy
English duke, general and politician, the 1st Duke of Northumberland and Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire.
Eliza Lucas
Caribbean-born agricultural innovator who introduced indigo cultivation to colonial South Carolina.
Deaths
Wang Zongbi
Wang Zongbi was a prominent military general of the Former Shu kingdom during China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Robert II
Robert II was a 12th-century French nobleman of the Capetian dynasty who served as Count of Dreux.
Hugh Aycelin
Hugh Aycelin was a French cardinal and influential church leader in the late 13th century.
Sir David II Strathbogie
Sir David II Strathbogie was a Scottish noble who served as Earl of Atholl and held key military offices.
Ashikaga Yoshiakira
Ashikaga Yoshiakira was the second shōgun of Japan’s Ashikaga shogunate during the Muromachi period.
Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina
Maria Angelina Doukaina Palaiologina was queen consort of the Despotate of Epirus in the 14th century.
Antipope Clement VIII was a claimant to the papacy during the Western Schism in the 15th century.
Bertoldo di Giovanni
Bertoldo di Giovanni was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and medallist active in Florence.
Piero the Unfortunate
Piero the Unfortunate was the de facto ruler of Florence from the Medici family who faced exile in 1494.