On This Day - December 4th
December usually means a great deal to many people. For some, it's a time of cheer and love. For others, it can be particularly lonely and cold. That is why it is so important to consider others every day this month and everything each day might bring them. For example, here is what December 4th has meant to people all over the world throughout the years.
On this day
The first Thanksgiving took place.
In 1619, 38 colonists from England’s Berkeley Parish disembarked in what became the state of Virginia and gave thanks to God. This event is considered by many as the First Thanksgiving in the Americas, a moment of celebration for many, but a controversial moment in colonial history for others.
The Observer was published for the first time.
In 1791, Britain’s newspaper, The Observer, was published for the first time. It is the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world! And yes, Sunday papers do still exist, even when many of us still get our news online!
A coup d’état was crushed in France.
In 1851, Napoleon Bonaparte's forces crushed an attempted coup d'etat in France. However, he would eventually be exiled from the country – his life was dramatic and fascinating, and well worth further study!
The Naval Conference in London took place.
In 1908, the world's ten leading maritime nations attended a Naval Conference in London. They agreed upon rules for blockade, convoys, and seizure of contraband.
Gemini 7 was launched.
In 1965, NASA launched Gemini 7. Frank Borman and Jim Lovell were the astronauts onboard. The craft carried out around 20 different experiments, with some of the main research tapping into clothing and nutrition in space.
Special Days Falling on December 4th
We all know what big holiday is celebrated in December, but it is among many others! Here are just some of the celebrations taking place in the world today!
International Cheetah Day
Every December 4th is International Cheetah Day! Today, we celebrate these incredible animals and their speed, agility, intelligence, and beauty. However, despite them being so incredible, they are still very much endangered. Today is the perfect day to look into what threatens these big cats and what you can do to help them!
Tupou I Day
December 4th is also King Tupou I Day. George Tupou I was the first king of what’s now known as modern Tonga. He was born today back in 1797, and eventually died on February 18, 1893. He was known for having unified the country into a monarchy. He reigned as King of Tonga from 1845 until 1893, during which time he abolished serfdom in 1862.
World Wildlife Conservation Day
Going back to the animals of the world, did you know that December 4th is also World Wildlife Conservation Day? Animals truly make this world, and without them, we would be nowhere. Beyond their undeniable beauty and fascinating ways, they also play a key role in our ecosystems, and should be respected at the very least! Yet, the biggest threat to animals is us. Humans have destroyed entire ecosystems and killed countless animals, and sadly, not just out of necessity.
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This page was last modified on December 1, 2023. Suggest an edit
This month in history
In 1922, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was established. It was created through the confederation of Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine, and the Transcaucasian Federation. The USSR would come to an end as of December 1991.
Famous Birthdays on December 4th
If you were born on December 4th
…you’re a Sagittarius! You’re a born traveler. You cannot be tied down, you were born to live wild and free! In fact, you’d do pretty well working in travel. With that confidence, intelligence, and lust for the great outdoors, we’d follow you anywhere!
There are all kinds of wild and wonderful things you can learn about your star sign, and if you’re just getting into the Western Zodiac, we encourage you to head over to our Sagittarius facts page to learn more about what makes you tick.
