December 23: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2021: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization to Pfizer's Paxlovid, an oral antiviral medication designed to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in high-risk patients, marking a significant advancement in pandemic treatment strategies.
• 2014: A severe insurgency erupted in Assam, India, with hundreds of residents killed in targeted village attacks. The National Democratic Front of Bodoland was suspected of orchestrating these violent incidents, prompting the Indian government to impose curfews in affected areas.
• 2011: During the 2011 Syrian uprising, two devastating car bombings in Damascus resulted in at least 40 fatalities, escalating the violence and humanitarian crisis in Syria.
• 2010: Hundreds of South Korean soldiers, tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets gathered 12 miles from North Korea's border to conduct one of the largest live-fire military exercises in the country's history. The dramatic show of force was met with strong condemnation from North Korea, which described the drills as 'warmongering' and threatened a 'sacred war'.
• 2004: P. V. Narasimha Rao, the ninth Prime Minister of India who served from 1991 to 1996 and was known for his economic reforms, passed away. Born in 1921, he was a pivotal figure in India's economic liberalization.
• 2002: Bill Frist was elected to succeed Trent Lott as the United States Senate Majority Leader, marking a significant leadership transition in the U.S. Senate. Frist, a Republican from Tennessee and a medical doctor, would play a crucial role in shaping Senate policy during the early 2000s.
• 1999: John P. Davies, a distinguished American diplomat who played significant roles during the mid-20th century, passed away. Davies was known for his expertise in international relations and diplomatic service.
• 1995: On December 23, 1995, Aleksander Kwaśniewski was inaugurated as the President of Poland, marking a significant transition in the country's post-communist political landscape. A former communist party member, Kwaśniewski narrowly defeated Lech Wałęsa, the iconic Solidarity movement leader and Poland's first post-communist president. This election symbolized Poland's ongoing political transformation and the complex process of moving beyond its communist past.
• 1988: Eri Kamei is a notable Japanese singer who was born on December 23, 1988. She is known for her work in the Japanese entertainment industry, particularly in the pop music and idol scene. Kamei has been part of notable musical groups and has contributed to the vibrant Japanese pop culture.
• 1981: Reginald Miles Ansett, a prominent Australian businessman and aviation pioneer who founded Ansett Airlines, passed away. He was a significant figure in Australia's transportation industry, having established one of the country's major airlines that played a crucial role in domestic and international air travel.

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December 23rd marks the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (or the 358th in case of leap years).

There are 8 days remaining until the end of the year.

December 23rd is the 23rd day of the month of December.

What day of the week is December 23?

On December 23rd, 2025 the day of the week is Tuesday.

Holidays and Observances on December 23

The zodiac sign associated with December 23rd is Capricorn according to the Western Zodiac.

More about December 23 zodiac

What is special about the Capricorn sign?

• Capricorn personality traits and attitude
• Capricorn most and least compatible signs
• Why December born are so special