Holidays Calendar for December 1, 2018
Like many other former colonies, the Central African Republic celebrates the day when the state gained independence from the colonizer. In CAR Independence Day is known as Republic Day and it's celebrated on December 1.
December 1 is Restoration of Independence in Portugal. This holiday celebrates the end of the Philippine Dynasty (House of Habsburg), that ruled the country from 1580 till 1640.
Great Union Day is celebrated in Romania annually on December 1. This holiday was established to commemorate the union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918.
Freedom and Democratic Day is a public holiday in Chad, that is celebrated every year on December 1. This holiday celebrates the events of 1990, when the long-lasting Hissène Habré's dictatorship was overthrown and Idriss Déby rose to power.
Costa Rica is one of a few countries, that officially doesn't have a military. It was abolished on December 1, 1948 by President José Figueres Ferrer and this anniversary is celebrated on the national level as Military Abolition Day.
Commemoration Day, also known as Martyrs’ Day, is a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates. Observed annually on December 1, Commemoration Day honors the memory of Emirati martyrs who have given their life in their home country and abroad in the field of military, humanitarian and civil service.
Bartholomew and Thaddeus (Jude) were among the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. In the Armenian Apostolic Church, they are venerated as its patron saints. Their collective feast day is movable; it observed by the Armenian Apostolic Church in late November or early December.
Day With(out) Art is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as to remember people who have died of AIDS and inspire positive action. It is held on December 1 to coincide with World AIDS Day.
International Maratheftiko Day is observed annually on December 1. It is celebrated by wine lovers around the world in honor of a rare red wine grape variety from Cyprus.
Antarctica Day is an international holiday that was established in honor of the Earth’s southernmost and least-populated continent. It is celebrated annually on December 1 to commemorate the signing anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty.
Prisoners for Peace Day is observed internationally on December 1. This annual campaign was launched by War Resisters’ International (WRI), a global anti-militarist and pacifist network founded in 1921 and consisting of more than 90 affiliated organizations in 40 countries.
Global Fat Bike Day is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in December. It was created to raise awareness about fat bikes and to encourage fat bike riders to get on their bikes and go for a ride.
Prosecutors' Day is celebrated in Ukraine annually on December 1. This professional day was instituted by Presidential Decree in 2000 in order to acknowledge the important role that the Ukrainian prosecutors play in the protection of human rights and their contributions to the formation of the legislative state.
Annually teachers of Panama celebrate their professional day on December 1. As Christmas approaches, celebration of Teachers' Day gains a specific significance for the teachers and their students.
Ice Hockey Day is a Russian holiday observed annually on December 1. It is dedicated to one of the most popular winter sports in Russia. The holiday was initiated by Vladislav Tretiak, a renowned ice hockey player and coach who was the goaltender for the Soviet Union national ice hockey team from 1964 to 1984.
Neurologist Day is an unofficial professional holiday celebrated in some countries on December 1. It is dedicated to physicians who specialize in dealing with disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems and their subdivisions.
Teachers' Day has been celebrated in many countries around the world for a long time, while in Israel it's a new holiday. It was established at the national level only in 2013 and it's annually celebrated on Kislev 23.
The first Saturday in December is Skywarn® Recognition Day in the United States. It was created by the National Weather Service to recognize volunteer storm spotters who help keep track of severe weather across the country.
Indigenous Faith Day is an official holiday in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated on December 1. It was established to raise awareness of the importance of preserving the religion, culture and languages of the indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
The inhabitants of Karakalpakstan, as well as Karakalpaks across the world, celebrate Karakalpak Language Day on December 1 to commemorate the day when Karakalpak was declared the official language of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
Motion Pictures Day, also translated as Movies Day or Japanese Cinema Day, is observed in Japan on December 1. It was created to celebrate the country’s film industry and commemorate the introduction of cinema to Japan in 1896.
Battle of Sinop Day is one of the Russian days of military honors. This day is observed on December 1 to commemorate the events of 1853, when Russian and Turkish troops started military actions at the seaport of Sinop in northern Anatolia.
In many countries their first president is considered to be the father of the nation. Regarding this, Day of the First President was established in Kazakhstan to celebrate the day, when Nursultan Nazarbaev became the first President of independent Kazakhstan in 1991.
Self-governance Day is one of the important holidays celebrated in Iceland on December 1. This holiday was established to commemorate the anniversary of signing the Danish-Icelandic Act of Union, that officially recognized Iceland as a sovereign country.
Since 2001 people of Thailand celebrate Damrong Rajanubhab Day. This national observance commemorates the passing of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab in 1943.
Rosa Parks Day is a U.S. observance dedicated to the civil rights activist Rosa Parks. It is celebrated on February 4 or December 1, depending on the state.
Every year on December 1, the Philippine municipality of Padre Garcia celebrates the Kabakahan Festival. It was created to boost tourism and highlight the municipality’s main source of income, cattle and cattle trade.
State Inauguration Day, also known as Statehood Day, is an official regional holiday celebrated in the Indian state of Nagaland on December 1. On this day in 1963, Nagaland became the 16th state of India.
Eat a Red Apple Day is observed on December 1. It is a perfect occasion to remind yourself that there are healthy snacks that are also tasty.
December 1 is a great day to begin preparations for Christmas if you haven’t done it yet. Why don’t you start with perfecting your Christmas cookie recipes? Break out your cookie cutters and bake some delicious cookies to celebrate National Cookie Cutter Day.
If you haven’t put up your Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving, December 1 is the perfect day to do it because it is National Christmas Lights Day. This holiday was created to celebrate one of the most beloved Christmas traditions.
Glögg Day (Glöggens dag) is celebrated in Sweden every year on December 1. It was created to honor a traditional Nordic drink consumed during the winter season, especially around Christmas.
The first Saturday of December is the perfect day to light your favorite scented candle and enjoy its warmth and fragrance because it is Candle Day. The celebration was launched by Bath & Body Works to kick off its annual candle sale.
AIDS is one of the most dangerous diseases. Since the time of its discovery people were not able to find a vaccine, only the ways to prevent infecting. Observation of World AIDS Day raises public awareness of this disease.
Small Business Saturday UK is an annual campaign held on the first Saturday of December. It is a grassroots, non-commercial initiative that was launched to promote and support small, independent businesses during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.
Festivals on December 1, 2018
- Maastricht Christmas Market in Maastricht, Netherlands
- Nashville Christmas Parade in Nashville, USA
- Children’s Christmas Parade in Georgia, USA
- New York WinterCon in New York, USA
- Fantafestival in Rome, Italy
- Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade in Palm Springs, USA
- Wales Comic Con in Wrexham, United Kingdom
- Gdansk Christmas Market in Gdansk, Poland
- Prague Christmas Market in Prague, Czech Republic
- Helsinki Christmas Market in Helsinki, Finland
- Vilnius Christmas Market in Vilnius, Lithuania
- Dominion Energy Christmas Parade in Richmond, USA
- Anime Festival Asia in Singapore, Singapore
- Barcelona Christmas Market (Feria de Santa Lucia) in Barcelona, Spain
- Portland Christmas Ship Parade in Portland (OR), USA
This Day in History
- 2023 Died: Sandra Day O'Connor, American attorney, politician, and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006.
- 2020 The Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico collapsed due a critical failure in the cables supporting its suspended structure. In 2022, it was announced that it would not be rebuilt.
- 2013 Yutu ("Jade Rabbit"), the first Chinese lunar rover, was launched as part of the Chang'e 3 lunar exploration mission.
- 2007 Died: Ken McGregor, Australian tennis player, winner of Australian Open in 1952. He and his doubles partner Frank Sedgman are generally considered to be on of the greatest men's doubles teams of all times.
- 2006 Died: Claude Jade, French actress, known for starring as Christine in three French films Stolen Kisses, Ben and Board and Love on the Run. She also worked internationally.
- 2002 Died: Edward L. Beach Jr., American officer and author. He is best known for his best-selling novel Run Silent, Run Deep that was also made into the movie by the same name.
- 1991 Died: George Stigler, American economist who won the 1982 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
- 1989 The right-wing military rebel Reform the Armed Forces Movement made an attempt to oust Philippine President Corazon Aquino in a failed bloody coup d'état.
- 1988 Born: Zoë Kravitz, American actress, singer and model, the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. She appeared in the films X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: First Class, It's Kind of a Funny Story.
- 1987 Died: James Baldwin, American author, poet and critic whose best known novel is Go Tell It on the Mountain.
- 1985 Born: Janelle Monáe, American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. Her acting credits include the films Moonlight, Hidden Figures, Harriet, and Glass Onion.
- 1984 Australia's most profound mystery: the body of an unidentified man was found in Adelaide. The death was caused by unknown poison; the case also involved a secret code in a very rare book. The case remains unsolved.
- 1982 Born: Riz Ahmed, British actor and rapper. He won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for The Long Goodbye, a short film accompanying his second studio album.
- 1977 Born: Brad Delson, American musician. Audiences know him best as the guitarist and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award winning rock band Linkin Park.
- 1974 TWA Flight 514, a Boeing 727, crashed northwest of Dulles International Airport, killing all 92 people on board. Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 6231, another Boeing 727, crashed northwest of John F. Kennedy International Airport.
- 1970 Born: Sarah Silverman, American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She first rose to prominence as a writer and cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live.
- 1969 The US draft lottery was resumed after its cancellation during World War II.
- 1964 Malawi, Malta and Zambia joined the United Nations. Angola would also join the UN on the same day, but 12 years later.
- 1960 Paul McCartney and Pete Best, the original drummer of the Beatles, were arrested in Hamburg, Germany after accusations of attempted arson. The musicians were later deported.
- 1958 A fire broke out at the Our Lady of the Angels School in Chicago, killing 92 children and 3 nuns.
- 1949 Born: Pablo Escobar, Colombian drug lord, narcoterrorist, and politician, who was the founder and sole leader of the Medellín Cartel. Dubbed "the king of cocaine", Escobar was the wealthiest criminal in history.
- 1947 Died: Aleister Crowley, English occultist, magician, novelist, known as the founder of the religion and philosophy of Thelema in the early 20th century.
- 1947 Died: G. H. Hardy, English mathematician. He is known for his essay on the aesthetics of mathematics titled A Mathematician's Apology.
- 1945 Born: Bette Midler, American singer, actress and comedian, the winner of three Grammy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.
- 1937 Born: Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Latvian psychologist and politician, the 6th President of Latvia from July 8, 1999 to July 8, 2007.
- 1935 Died: Bernhard Schmidt, Estonian optician and astronomer. He invented the Schmidt telescope, which corrected for the optical errors of spherical aberration, coma, and astigmatism.
- 1925 Born: Martin Rodbell, American biochemist, remembered for this discovery of G-proteins. This work won him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1994.
- 1913 The first moving assembly line was introduced at the Ford Motor Company.
- 1912 Born: Minoru Yamasaki, American architect. His most recognizable work was the original World Trade Center in New York City.
- 1885 The soft drink Dr Pepper was served for the first time at a drug store in Waco, Texas.
- 1866 Died: George Everest, Welsh geographer and surveyor. Mount Everest was named in his honor.
- 1761 Born: Marie Tussaud, French artist, best known for her wax sculptures. She founded the wax museum Madam Tussauds in London.
- 1755 Died: Maurice Greene, English composer and organist known for his sacred and secular vocal music, including the anthem "Hearken Unto Me, Ye Holy Children".
- 1716 Born: Étienne Maurice Falconet, French baroque, rococo and neoclassical sculptor, best-known for his equestrian statue of Peter the Great, the Bronze Horseman, in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
- 1709 Born: Franz Xaver Richter, Austro-Moravian singer, violinist, composer, conductor and music theoretician. He wrote chiefly symphonies, concertos for woodwinds as well as trumpet, and chamber and church music.