21
December
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December 21 in History
1999
The Spanish Civil Guard intercepts a van loaded with 950 kg of explosives that ETA intended to use to blow up Torre Picasso in Madrid.
1995
The city of Bethlehem passes from Israeli to Palestinian control.
1994
Mexican volcano Popocatepetl, dormant for 47 years, erupts gases and ash.
1992
A Dutch DC-10, flight Martinair MP 495, crashes at Faro Airport, killing 56 people.
1988
A bomb explodes on board Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, killing 270.
1979
Lancaster House Agreement: An independence agreement for Rhodesia is signed in London by Lord Carrington, Sir Ian Gilmour, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Bishop Abel Muzorewa and S.C. Mundawarara.
1973
The Geneva Conference on the Arab-Israeli conflict opens.
1969
The Gay Activists Alliance is formed in New York City.
1968
Apollo program: ''Apollo 8'', the first manned mission to the moon, is launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At 2h:50m:37s Mission elapsed time (MES), the crew performs the first ever manned Trans Lunar Injection and become the first humans to leave Earth's gravity.
1967
Louis Washkansky, the first man to undergo a heart transplant, dies in Cape Town, South Africa, after living for 18 days after the transplant.
1962
Rondane National Park is established as Norway's first national park.
1941
World War II: A formal treaty of alliance between Thailand and Japan is signed in the presence of the Emerald Buddha in Wat Phra Kaew.
1937
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated film, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theater.
1913
Arthur Wynne's "word-cross", the first crossword puzzle, is published in the ''New York World''.
1883
The first Permanent Force cavalry and infantry regiments of the Canadian Army are formed: The Royal Canadian Dragoons and The Royal Canadian Regiment.
1872
Challenger expedition: {{HMS|Challenger|1858|6}}, commanded by Captain George Nares, sails from Portsmouth.
1861
Medal of Honor: Public Resolution 82, containing a provision for a Navy Medal of Valor, is signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
1844
The Rochdale Pioneers commence business at their cooperative in Rochdale, England, starting the Cooperative movement.
1620
Plymouth Colony: William Bradford and the ''Mayflower'' Pilgrims land on what is now known as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
1598
Battle of Curalaba: The revolting Mapuche, led by cacique Pelentaru, inflict a major defeat on Spanish troops in southern Chile.
1140
Conrad III of Germany besieged Weinsberg.
69
The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian becomes the fourth Emperor of Rome within a year.