December 21: What Happened on This Day in History
December 21st marks the 355th day of the Gregorian calendar year (or the 356th in case of leap years). There are 10 days remaining until the end of the year.
Discover what happened on December 21st in history, famous birthdays on December 21st, celebrities died on this day, the day of the week and the zodiac sign associated to December 21.
What happened on December 21?
Here's what happened on December 21st in history:
- 2021: The U.S. State Department approved a significant military equipment sale to Lithuania, a NATO ally, consisting of 341 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and 30 command launch units. This arms transfer occurred during a period of heightened geopolitical tensions with Russia, signaling strategic military support for Eastern European NATO members.
- 2014: British music icon Elton John legally married his long-time partner David Furnish in a high-profile ceremony, marking a significant moment for LGBTQ+ rights and celebrity culture.
- 2011: The Syrian opposition calls on the United Nations and Arab League for emergency meetings following an alleged massacre in the northwest region of Syria, occurring before Arab League monitors enter the country.
- 2004: A devastating suicide bombing occurred at a U.S. military base in Mosul, Iraq, resulting in 22 fatalities, including 13 American soldiers. This attack was one of the most significant and deadly attacks on U.S. forces during the Iraq War.
- 2002: A Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter of the German military crashed at Kabul airport in Afghanistan, resulting in the tragic death of seven German soldiers during a military operation.
- 1999: The Spanish Civil Guard successfully intercepted a van loaded with 950 kg of explosives that the Basque terrorist group ETA planned to use in a potential attack on Torre Picasso, a prominent skyscraper in Madrid, Spain. This critical intervention prevented a potentially catastrophic terrorist incident.
- 1995: Pitcher David Cone re-signed with the New York Yankees, agreeing to a three-year contract worth US$18 million. This contract reinforced the Yankees' commitment to maintaining a strong pitching roster during the mid-1990s.
- 1988: Nikolaas Tinbergen, a renowned Dutch/British ornithologist and Nobel Prize recipient in Physiology or Medicine, passed away at the age of 81 on December 21, 1988. Tinbergen was a pioneering ethologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of animal behavior.
- 1985: Alice Miller secured victory in the LPGA Mazda Golf Championship, demonstrating her exceptional skill in professional women's golf.
- 1981: Dima Bilan is a renowned Russian pop singer, known for his successful international music career and representing Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest, where he won in 2008.
What famous birthdays are on December 21?
On December 21st there are the following famous birthdays:
![Jane Fonda]()
Jane Fonda (1937)Iconic American actress, activist, and cultural icon who has reinvented herself multiple times throughout her career, spanning film,...
![Phil Donahue]()
Phil Donahue (1935)Pioneering American television talk show host who revolutionized audience interaction and daytime television.
![Paul Winchell]()
Paul Winchell (1922)Renowned American ventriloquist, voice actor, and inventor who created the famous puppet characters Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff, and...
![Julie Delpy]()
Julie Delpy (1969)Renowned French actress and filmmaker known for her roles in critically acclaimed films like 'Before Sunrise' and 'Before Sunset'.
![Kiefer Sutherland]()
Kiefer Sutherland (1966)Renowned actor known for his iconic role in '24' and numerous film performances.
![Corinne Touzet]()
Corinne Touzet (1959)French actress, comedian, and producer of West Indian descent, known for her prominent role in the television series 'Une Femme d'Honneur'.
![Ray Romano]()
Ray Romano (1957)Ray Romano is an acclaimed American comedian and actor, best known for his iconic sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.
![Paul Meurisse]()
Paul Meurisse (1912)Renowned French actor and former partner of Edith Piaf, Paul Meurisse was a significant figure in mid-20th century French cinema.
![Steven Yeun]()
Steven Yeun (1983)South Korean-American actor best known for his breakthrough role in 'The Walking Dead' and subsequent successful film and television career.
![Betty Wright]()
Betty Wright (1953)Influential R&B and soul singer known for her powerful vocals and hit songs in the 1970s and 1980s.
How to check someone's birthday?
If you’re looking for a person's birth date, have a look at our Birthday Search Guide
Who died on December 21?
On December 21st the following celebrities died:
![John Eisenhower]()
John Eisenhower (2013)John Eisenhower was an American military officer, diplomat, and writer, son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
![Ted Healy]()
- Stella Adler (1992)
Stella Adler was a pioneering American actress and acting teacher who significantly influenced modern acting techniques.
- Albert King (1992)
Legendary blues guitarist and singer, one of the most influential blues musicians of the 20th century, known for his distinctive left-handed...
- Nathan Milstein (1992)
Nathan Milstein was a renowned Ukrainian-American classical violinist, celebrated for his exceptional interpretations of Bach and Beethoven...
- Kurt Tucholsky (1935)
German-Jewish journalist, satirist, and poet, known for his sharp political and social criticism.
- Enzo Bearzot (2010)
Legendary Italian football coach who led the Italian national team to victory in the 1982 FIFA World Cup, considered one of the most...
- Kelly Johnson (1990)
Legendary aerospace engineer at Lockheed Corporation who designed groundbreaking aircraft and was a key figure in the development of...
- Nikolaas Tinbergen (1988)
Dutch-english ethologist and ornithologist, nobel prize laureate (d. 1988).
- Sidney Drell (2016)
Renowned theoretical physicist who made significant contributions to quantum electrodynamics and particle physics.
What day of the year is December 21?
December 21st marks the 355th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 356th in case of leap years).
There are 10 days remaining until the end of the year.
December 21st is the 21st day of the month of December.
What day of the week is December 21?
On December 21st, 2025 the day of the week is Sunday.
| December | 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
What zodiac sign is associated with the day December 21?
The zodiac sign associated with December 21st is Sagittarius according to the Western Zodiac.
