2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown
The 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, the second-longest shutdown of the U.S. federal government in history, begins.
What happened on December 22
31 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 401 to 2025.
Standout on December 22
2018
2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown
The 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, the second-longest shutdown of the U.S. federal government in history, begins.
About December 22
December 22 is the 356th day of the year. These facts are computed from the calendar, not copied from anywhere.
- Day of the year
- Day 356 of 365 (357 in leap years)9 days left in the year (9 in leap years)
- Falls on
- Tuesday in 2026, Wednesday in 2027, Friday in 2028, Saturday in 2029, Sunday in 2030
- Week
- ISO week 52 of 2026 · Q4
- Zodiac sign
- ♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)Cusp date — the exact boundary shifts by a day in some years.
- Season
- Winter in the north · Summer in the south
- December birthstone
- Turquoise / Tanzanite / Zircongood fortune, wisdom and success
- December birth flower
- Narcissus / Holly / Poinsettiarespect, hope and good wishes
- Next occurrence
- In 56 days
- Roman numerals
- XXII.XIIday.month — see the Roman numeral date tool
Anniversaries in 2026
- 1625thPope Innocent I401
- 30thAirborne Express Flight 8271996
- 25thBurhanuddin Rabbani2001
- 25thCamila Osorio2001
- 25thJack Draper2001
- 25thRichard Reid2001
- 20thCallan McKenna2006
- 10thChad Robinson2016
December 22 through the years
- 10 years ago2016
- RVSV-ZEBOV vaccine · Chad Robinson
- 25 years ago2001
- Richard Reid · Burhanuddin Rabbani · Jack Draper
- 50 years ago1976
- Nothing recorded
- 100 years ago1926
- Nothing recorded
- 200 years ago1826
- Nothing recorded
Born on December 22 — ages this year
- 2006Callan McKennaturns 20
- 2003Joe Andersturns 23
- 2002David Datro Fofanaturns 24
- 2001Jack Draperturns 25
- 2001Camila Osorioturns 25
- 2000Joshua Bassettturns 26
Historical events 31
A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
2018 Sunda Strait tsunami
A tsunami, triggered by the partial collapse of Anak Krakatoa, killed 426 people and injured over 14,000 in coastal areas of Indonesia.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397 against North Korea is unanimously approved.
RVSV-ZEBOV vaccine
A study finds the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus between 70 and 100% effective, making it the first proven vaccine against the disease.
United States Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office stated that works lacking human authorship, such as a photograph taken by a monkey, could not be registered for copyright in the United States.
Bashir Ahmad Bilour
Bashir Ahmad Bilour of Awami National Party and eight others are killed in a Pakistan Taliban bomber suicide attack in Dhaki Nalbandi area near Qissa Khwani Bazaar.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
The United States repealed its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the military (signing pictured).
Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill
A dike ruptured at a waste containment area for a coal-fired power plant in Kingston, Tennessee, releasing 1.1 billion gallons (4.2 million m3) of coal fly ash slurry in the largest industrial spill in US history.
Richard Reid
Richard Reid unsuccessfully attempted to detonate a bomb in his shoe on a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami.
Burhanuddin Rabbani
Burhanuddin Rabbani of the Northern Alliance handed over power in Afghanistan to the interim government headed by Hamid Karzai.
London Stansted Airport
Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board.
Hussein Farrah Aidid
Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquished the disputed title of President of Somalia.
Somali Civil War
Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991.
Acteal massacre
Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces.
Airborne Express Flight 827
Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board.
Tripoli International Airport
During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people.
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland.
Marshall Islands
Final independence of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia after termination of trusteeship.
German reunification
German reunification: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany.
Romanian revolution
Romanian Revolution: Communist President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife Elena flee Bucharest in a helicopter as protesters erupt in cheers.
Trade union
Brazilian unionist and environmental activist Chico Mendes was murdered at his home in Xapuri.
Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, the political parties ZANU and ZAPU reach an agreement that ends the violence in the Matabeleland region known as the Gukurahundi.
1984 New York City Subway shooting
"Subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz shoots four would-be muggers on a 2 express train in Manhattan section of New York, United States.
New York City Subway
While riding a New York City Subway train, Bernhard Goetz shot four African-American youths who had attempted to rob him, sparking a nationwide debate on vigilantism, racism, and the legal limits of self-defense.
Sjafruddin Prawiranegara
Chaired by Sjafruddin Prawiranegara, the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia was established to counter Dutch attempts to re-assert colonial control.
All-India Muslim League
Members of the All-India Muslim League observed a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over the decision to enter the Second World War at the request of the United Kingdom.
Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel, connecting New York City to Weehawken, New Jersey, opened.
Congress of Soviets
The Congress of Soviets approved the GOELRO plan, the first Soviet plan for national economic recovery and development.
Napoleonic Wars
In an effort to avoid engaging in the Napoleonic Wars, the United States Congress passed the Embargo Act, forbidding American ships from engaging in trade with foreign nations.
856 Damghan earthquake
An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 struck the eastern Alborz mountains in Persia, causing an estimated 200,000 deaths.
Pope Innocent I
Pope Innocent I began his papacy, succeeding Anastasius I.
Births 20
A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
Deaths 20
A notable person who died on this day.
Seventeen (Indonesian band)
Herman Sikumbang, Indonesian guitarist (born 1982); casualty during 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami
Freda Meissner-Blau
Freda Meissner-Blau, Australian activist and politician (born 1927)
Cliff Osmond
Cliff Osmond, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1937)
Holidays & observances 8
A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
Eimhin
Christian feast day: Eimhin
Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day (Vietnam)
Dongzhi
Dongzhi Festival
Ernan
Christian feast day: Ernan, Son of Eogan
Saint Hunger
Christian feast day: Hunger
O Antiphons
Christian feast day: O Rex
Anastasia of Sirmium
Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church)
Frances Xavier Cabrini
Christian feast day: Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US)
Spread across the centuries
- 5th century1
- 9th century1
- 19th century1
- 20th century33
- 21st century35
Earliest: Pope Innocent I (401). Most recent: Chris Rea (2025).
What the categories mean, and how the standout is chosen
- Historical events
- A dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
- Births
- A notable person born on this day. Each links to a person page with their dates and story.
- Deaths
- A notable person who died on this day.
- Milestones
- A first, a founding or a turning point our editors flagged as a landmark moment.
- Holidays & observances
- A holiday, feast day, awareness day or national day observed every year on this date.
- Standout / notable
- Editor-written entries come first, then entries covered by the most Wikipedia language editions. For the standout tile we prefer an entry that has a picture.
Nearby and related
Questions about December 22
What day of the year is December 22?
December 22 is the 356th day of the year, with 9 days left after it.
What star sign is December 22?
December 22 falls under Capricorn (December 22 – January 19), a earth sign ruled by Saturn. The birthstone for the month is Turquoise or Tanzanite or Zircon.
How many things happened on December 22?
We record 79 entries for December 22: 31 events · 20 births · 20 deaths · 8 observances. From 401 to 2025.
Who was born on December 22?
Callan McKenna (2006) is among the notable births on December 22. The births section lists the rest.
How often is the December 22 page updated?
The day is filled the first time anyone opens it and then re-checked for new entries about every 90 days. Computed facts such as the weekday and the anniversaries update every year.
Get a daily entry like December 22
One short email a day from this calendar. Kept for this site only.
Text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0 and from Wikidata (CC0). Images come from Wikimedia Commons; credit and licence are shown with each image. Editorial entries are © What's On This Date. Sources & licensing · How this site works.