Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
December 23 Wednesday, December 23, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 23 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
Culture 253 years ago
Moscow State Academy of Choreography is founded under the reign of Catherine II. It is the second ballet school in Russia after Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
Catherine II establishes the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, Russia's second ballet school after the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg.
History
What happened on December 23
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 484Religion
The Arian Vandal Kingdom ceases its persecution of Nicene Christianity.
The Arian Vandal Kingdom ends its persecution of Nicene Christians, marking a significant shift in religious tolerance.
- 558European history
Chlothar I is crowned King of the Franks.
Chlothar I is crowned King of the Franks, uniting the Frankish tribes under his rule.
- 583World history
Maya queen Yohl Ik'nal is crowned ruler of Palenque.
Yohl Ik'nal becomes the first known female ruler of Palenque, marking a significant moment in Mayan history.
- 962War
The Sack of Aleppo as part of the Arab-Byzantine wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo.
Byzantine forces under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas storm and sack Aleppo during the Arab-Byzantine wars.
- 1299War
The Ilkhanate ruler Ghazan defeats a Mamluk army that opposes his invasion into Syria in the Battle of Wadi al-Khaznadar near Homs.
Ghazan, ruler of the Ilkhanate, defeats a Mamluk army near Homs, securing his invasion of Syria.
- 1598War
Arauco War: Governor of Chile Martín García Óñez de Loyola is killed in the Battle of Curalaba by Mapuches led by Pelantaru.
Governor Martín García Óñez de Loyola is killed in the Battle of Curalaba by Mapuche warriors led by Pelantaru.
- 1688UK history
As part of the Glorious Revolution, King James II of England flees from England to Paris after being deposed in favor of his son-in-law and nephew, William of Orange and his daughter Mary.
King James II flees to Paris following his deposition, making way for his son-in-law William of Orange and his daughter Mary to ascend the throne.
- 1773Culture
Moscow State Academy of Choreography is founded under the reign of Catherine II. It is the second ballet school in Russia after Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.
Catherine II establishes the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, Russia's second ballet school after the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg.
- 1783US history
George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.
George Washington resigns as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army before a joint session of Congress.
- 1815Culture
The novel Emma by Jane Austen is first published.
Jane Austen's novel "Emma" is first published.
- 1876World history
First day of the Constantinople Conference which resulted in agreement for political reforms in the Balkans.
Representatives from Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary convene in Constantinople to negotiate political reforms and autonomy for Balkan territories under Ottoman rule.
- 1990European history
History of Slovenia: In a referendum, 88.5% of Slovenia's overall electorate vote for independence from Yugoslavia.
Slovenia votes for independence from Yugoslavia with 88.5% support in a referendum.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 23
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 76
Richard Dannatt
Baron Dannatt, English general
General Francis Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt, who served as British Army Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009 after being commissioned into the Green Howards in 1971, turns 76 today.
Born
1950
Turns 76
today
Pierre Brissaud
French illustrator, painter, and engraver
1885 – 1964
Wesley Clark
American general
b. 1944 · 82
Adly Mansour
Egyptian lawyer, judge, and politician, President of Egypt
b. 1945 · 81
Susan Lucci
American actress
b. 1946 · 80
Grace Knight
English-Australian singer-songwriter
b. 1955 · 71
Lorna Tolentino
Filipino actress and producer
b. 1961 · 65
Music
The number one songs on December 23
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2025"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2024"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2023"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2022"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2021"Merry Christmas"— Ed Sheeran and Elton John
- 2020"All I Want for Christmas Is You"— Mariah Carey
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport December 23, 1986
Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, lands at Edwards Air Force Base in California becoming the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without aerial or ground refueling.
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager land Voyager at Edwards Air Force Base, completing the first non-stop round-the-world flight without refueling.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 23, 1947
The transistor is first demonstrated at Bell Laboratories.
William Shockley, Walter Brattain, and John Bardeen demonstrate the first point-contact transistor.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day (Sweden)
International
By an ordinance issued by the government of Sweden, a number of days of the calendar year are designated as official flag flying days when the Swedish flag is flown on all public flagpoles and build
Children's Day (South Sudan and Sudan)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
Day of all level operational control structures servicemen (Ukraine)
International
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are the military forces responsible for the defence of Ukraine and its national interests
Festivus, a secular holiday made popular by the sitcom Seinfeld
International
Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to the perceived pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season
HumanLight (Secular humanism in United States)
International
HumanLight is a Humanist holiday celebrated annually on December 23
Kisan Diwas (Uttar Pradesh, India)
International
Chaudhary Charan Singh was an Indian politician, peasant leader, author and an independence activist who briefly served as the prime minister of India from July 1979 to January 1980
❝
The moral component is the hardest thing to get right in the preparation of an army.
— Richard Dannatt · born December 23, 1950