What Happened On December 16

10 odd things that happened on December 16

• 
  1707 Oddly true

  The last recorded eruption of Japan's Mount Fuji released some 800 million m3 (28 billion cu ft) of volcanic ash.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1986 First ever

  The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1811 First ever

  The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes struck the Midwestern United States and made the Mississippi River appear to run backward.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1761 Oddly true

  Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, Russian forces captured Kolberg, the last major Prussian port on the Baltic Sea.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1740 First ever

  Prussian forces, led by Frederick the Great, moved into the Habsburg region of Silesia, starting the First Silesian War.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1882 First ever

  Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1880 First ever

  Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1811 First ever

  The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1782 First ever

  British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

• 
  1777 First ever

  Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.

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  Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Observed today

• Christian feast day: Adelaide of Italy
• Christian feast day: Haggai
• Christian feast day: Blessed Marianna Fontanella
• Christian feast day: Blessed Philip Siphong Onphitak
• Christian feast day: Ralph Adams Cram, Richard Upjohn and John La Farge (Episcopal Church (USA))
• Christian feast day: December 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
• Day of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the Afrikaners (South Africa)
• Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.
• National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971.
• International Day of the Belt and Road Initiative
• National Sports Day (Thailand)
• The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of Las Posadas (Mexico, Latin America)
• The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Hispanidad): The first day of the Simbang Gabi novena of masses (Philippines)
• Victory Day observances, celebration of the Indo-Bangla allied victory over Pakistan armed forces and the Liberation of Bangladesh. (Bangladesh and India[a])

• 2024The Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, takes place, resulting in the death of three people. Wikipedia →
• 2022A landslide occurs at a camp at an organic farm near the town of Batang Kali in Selangor, Malaysia, trapping 92 people and killing 31. Wikipedia →
• 2014Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attack an Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing 150 people, 132 of them schoolchildren. Wikipedia →
• 2013A bus falls from an elevated highway in Manila, capital of the Philippines, killing at least 18 people with 20 injured. Wikipedia →
• 2011The Zhanaozen massacre occurs when violent protests by oil workers take place in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan, resulting in security forces killing at least 14 and injuring 100 more. Wikipedia →
• 1997Dennō Senshi Porygon: Over 600 kids in Japan suffer photosensitive epileptic seizures after watching an episode of the Pokémon anime. Wikipedia →
• 1992Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Palestinians suspected to be members of Hamas across the Lebanese border. Wikipedia →
• 1989Romanian Revolution: Protests break out in Timișoara, Romania, in response to an attempt by the government to evict dissident Hungarian pastor László Tőkés. Wikipedia →
• 1986The Jeltoqsan riots erupt in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, in response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's dismissal of ethnic Kazakh Dinmukhamed Kunaev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and his replacement with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian from the Russian SFSR. Wikipedia →
• 1973Aeroflot Flight 2022 crashes in the Soviet Union's (now Russia) Volokolamsky District, killing all 51 aboard, including four Lithuanian doctors. Wikipedia →
• 1972The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is enacted. Wikipedia →
• 1971Bangladesh Liberation War and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: The surrender of the Pakistan Army brings an end to both conflicts. This is commemorated annually as Victory Day in Bangladesh and Vijay Diwas in India respectively. Wikipedia →
• 1971The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain's independence, which is commemorated annually as Bahrain's National Day. Wikipedia →
• 1968Second Vatican Council: Official revocation of the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain. Wikipedia →
• 1960A United Air Lines Douglas DC-8 and a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation collide over Staten Island, New York and crash, killing all 128 people aboard both aircraft and six more on the ground. Wikipedia →
• 1951A Miami Airlines Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in Elizabeth, New Jersey, killing all 58 aboard including dancer Doris Ruby. Wikipedia →
• 1944World War II: The Battle of the Bulge begins with the surprise offensive of three German armies through the Ardennes forest. Wikipedia →
• 1942The Holocaust: Schutzstaffel chief Heinrich Himmler orders that Roma candidates for extermination be deported to Auschwitz. Wikipedia →
• 1920The Haiyuan earthquake of 8.5Mw rocks the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000. Wikipedia →
• 1914World War I: Admiral Franz von Hipper commands a raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. Wikipedia →
• 1912First Balkan War: The Royal Hellenic Navy defeats the Ottoman Navy at the Battle of Elli. Wikipedia →
• 1905In rugby union, the "Match of the Century" is played between Wales and New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park. Wikipedia →
• 1883Tonkin Campaign: French forces capture the Sơn Tây citadel. Wikipedia →
• 1882Wales and England contest the first Home Nations (now Six Nations) rugby union match. Wikipedia →
• 1880Outbreak of the First Boer War between the Boer South African Republic and the British Empire. Wikipedia →
• 1864American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville ends as the Union Army of the Cumberland under General George H. Thomas routs and destroys the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood, ending its effectiveness as a combat unit. Wikipedia →
• 1863American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints General Joseph E. Johnston to replace General Braxton Bragg as commander of the Army of Tennessee. Wikipedia →
• 1850The Charlotte Jane and the Randolph bring the first of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton, New Zealand. Wikipedia →
• 1838Great Trek: Battle of Blood River: Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius and Sarel Cilliers defeat Zulu impis, led by Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi in what is today KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Wikipedia →
• 1826Benjamin W. Edwards rides into Mexican-controlled Nacogdoches, Texas, and declares himself ruler of the Republic of Fredonia. Wikipedia →
• 1811The first two in a series of four severe earthquakes occur in the vicinity of New Madrid, Missouri. Wikipedia →
• 1782British East India Company: Muharram Rebellion: Hada and Mada Miah lead the first anti-British uprising in the subcontinent against Robert Lindsay and his contingents in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah. Wikipedia →
• 1777Virginia becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. Wikipedia →
• 1773American Revolution: Boston Tea Party: Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dump hundreds of crates of tea into Boston harbor as a protest against the Tea Act. Wikipedia →
• 1761Seven Years' War: After a four-month siege, the Russians under Pyotr Rumyantsev take the Prussian fortress of Kołobrzeg. Wikipedia →
• 1707The most recent eruption of Mount Fuji. Wikipedia →
• 1689Convention Parliament: The Declaration of Right is embodied in the Bill of Rights. Wikipedia →
• 1653English Interregnum: The Protectorate: Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. Wikipedia →
• 1598Seven-Year War: Battle of Noryang: The final battle of the Seven-Year War is fought between the China and the Korean allied forces and Japanese navies, resulting in a decisive allied forces victory. Wikipedia →
• 1575An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.5Mw strikes Valdivia, Chile. Wikipedia →
• 1497Vasco da Gama passes the Great Fish River at the southern tip of Africa, where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal. Wikipedia →
• 1431Hundred Years' War: Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre Dame in Paris. Wikipedia →
• 755An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Yanjing, initiating the An Lushan Rebellion during the Tang dynasty of China. Wikipedia →
• 714Pepin of Herstal, mayor of the Merovingian palace, dies at Jupille (modern Belgium). He is succeeded by his infant grandson Theudoald, while his widow Plectrude holds actual power in the Frankish Kingdom. Wikipedia →
• 533The Digest, the great collection of all Roman jurists' law, is issued together with a new official law textbook for legal schools, The Institutes. Wikipedia →