December 29 facts for kids

December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; two days remain until the end of the year. December 29th is a special day in history, filled with many important events, births of famous people, and the passing of others who left their mark on the world. From ancient times to today, this date has seen moments that changed countries, shaped cultures, and influenced science and art. Let's explore some of the most interesting happenings on this day!

Historical Events on December 29

Important Moments Before 1900

• 1170 – Thomas Becket, a very important church leader called the Archbishop of Canterbury, was sadly killed inside Canterbury Cathedral. This happened because of disagreements with King Henry II. He later became known as a saint.
• 1607 – A famous story tells us that Pocahontas, the daughter of the Native American leader Wahunsenacawh, saved the life of John Smith. Tribal leaders had planned to execute him, but she stepped in to help.
• 1778 – During the American Revolutionary War, about three thousand British soldiers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, captured the city of Savannah, Georgia.
• 1812 – The American ship USS Constitution, commanded by William Bainbridge, captured the British ship HMS Java in a battle off the coast of Brazil.
• 1835 – The Treaty of New Echota was signed. This agreement meant that the Cherokee people had to give up all their lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States.
• 1845 – The United States added the Republic of Texas as its 28th state. This was a big moment in American history.
• 1860 – The ship HMS Warrior was launched. It was a groundbreaking warship because it combined a screw propeller, an iron hull, and iron armor. This made all older warships seem outdated!
• 1890 – A tragic event known as the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. About 300 Lakota people were killed by the United States 7th Cavalry Regiment.

Key Events Since 1900

• 1911 – Mongolia became independent from the Qing dynasty. This meant they could rule themselves, and 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu became their new leader.
• 1913 – Cecil B. DeMille began filming The Squaw Man, which was one of Hollywood's very first feature films.
• 1937 – The Irish Free State changed its name to Ireland when it adopted a new constitution.
• 1940 – During World War II, the German air force, called the Luftwaffe, dropped fire bombs on London, England. This event, known as the Second Great Fire of London, sadly killed almost 200 civilians.
• 1972 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashed in the Florida Everglades while trying to land at Miami International Airport. Many people lost their lives in this accident.
• 1989 – Václav Havel, a Czech writer and thinker who had spoken out against the government, was elected as the first president of Czechoslovakia after the end of communist rule.
• 1996 – Guatemala and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity signed a peace agreement, finally ending a long 36-year civil war.
• 1998 – Leaders of the Khmer Rouge group apologized for the terrible Cambodian genocide, where over a million lives were lost.
• 2003 – The last person who could speak the Akkala Sami language passed away, meaning the language became extinct.
• 2013 – Michael Schumacher, a seven-time Formula One racing champion, had a serious head injury while skiing in the French Alps.
• 2022 – Pelé, a legendary Brazilian footballer, passed away. He is widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time.

Famous People Born on December 29

• 1721 – Madame de Pompadour, who was a very influential woman and the mistress of King Louis XV of France.
• 1766 – Charles Macintosh, a Scottish chemist who invented waterproof fabric.
• 1800 – Charles Goodyear, an American chemist and engineer who invented vulcanized rubber.
• 1808 – Andrew Johnson, who became the 17th President of the United States.
• 1809 – William Ewart Gladstone, an English politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom multiple times.
• 1876 – Pablo Casals, a famous Catalan cellist and conductor.
• 1936 – Mary Tyler Moore, a beloved American actress and producer.
• 1938 – Jon Voight, a well-known American actor.
• 1946 – Marianne Faithfull, an English singer-songwriter and actress.
• 1947 – Ted Danson, a popular American actor and producer.
• 1959 – Patricia Clarkson, an American actress.
• 1965 – Dexter Holland, an American musician and singer, known as the lead singer of The Offspring.
• 1972 – Jude Law, a famous English actor.
• 1979 – Diego Luna, a Mexican actor, director, and producer.
• 1982 – Alison Brie, an American actress.
• 1995 – Ross Lynch, an American singer and actor.
• 1996 – Sana Minatozaki, a Japanese singer, part of the K-pop group Twice.
• 1996 – Dylan Minnette, an American actor and musician.

People Who Passed Away on December 29

• 1170 – Thomas Becket, the English archbishop mentioned earlier, who was killed on this day.
• 1894 – Christina Rossetti, a well-known English poet.
• 1926 – Rainer Maria Rilke, an Austrian poet and author.
• 1929 – Wilhelm Maybach, a German engineer who helped found the famous car company Maybach.
• 1986 – Harold Macmillan, an English politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• 2020 – Pierre Cardin, a famous Italian-French fashion designer.
• 2022 – Pelé, the legendary Brazilian footballer.
• 2022 – Vivienne Westwood, an influential English fashion designer.

Holidays and Celebrations

• Christian feast day:
  • Thomas Becket
• Constitution Day (Ireland) – A day celebrating Ireland's constitution.
• Independence Day (Mongolia) – Mongolia celebrates its independence on this day.
• The fifth day of Christmas (Western Christianity)
• The fourth day of Kwanzaa (United States)

See also

In Spanish: 29 de diciembre para niños