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24th December 1955: NORAD tracks Santa for the first time

On the 24th December 1955, the Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command first began giving children the current location of Santa as he made his way across the world delivering presents.

  • 24th December 1955: NORAD tracks Santa for the first time
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23rd December 1750: Ben Franklin accidentally shocks himself while trying to electrocute a turkey

Benjamin Franklin, the American polymath, accidentally electrocuted himself while attempting to kill a turkey.

  • 23rd December 1750: Ben Franklin accidentally shocks himself while trying to electrocute a turkey
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22nd December 1882: The first use of electric lights on a Christmas tree

80 red, white, and blue walnut-sized glass light bulbs were hand-wired and placed around a large Christmas tree in the home of Edward H. Johnson’s New York home on Fifth Avenue.

  • 22nd December 1882: The first use of electric lights on a Christmas tree
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21st December 1620: The first Mayflower Pilgrims land at Plymouth

The first of the Mayflower Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they established the Plymouth Colony.

  • 21st December 1620: The first Mayflower Pilgrims land at Plymouth
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20th December 1860: South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the United States of America

Other states soon followed South Carolina’s lead, setting the stage for the American Civil War.

  • 20th December 1860: South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the United States of America
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19th December 1918: Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not!’ published for the first time in the New York Globe

It has since been adapted into numerous formats and is still printed in more than 40 countries.

  • 19th December 1918: Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not!’ published for the first time in the New York Globe
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18th December 1892: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker first performed

On the 18th December 1892, Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker received its première performance at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

  • 18th December 1892: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker first performed
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17th December 497 BCE: The first Saturnalia festival celebrated in ancient Rome

The Saturnalia festival was dedicated to Roman god, Saturn.

  • 17th December 497 BCE: The first Saturnalia festival celebrated in ancient Rome
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16th December 1914: German Navy attack Scarborough

Shortly after 8am on the 16th December 1914, the German Imperial Navy attacked the British seaside towns of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby.

  • 16th December 1914: German Navy attack Scarborough
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15th December 1851: The Forest Creek Monster Meeting of Australian gold miners protests taxes

Over 14,000 Australian gold miners gathered at Forest Creek in Victoria for a protest known as the Monster Meeting.

  • 15th December 1851: The Forest Creek Monster Meeting of Australian gold miners protests taxes
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14th December 1911: Roald Amundsen reaches the South Pole

On the 14th December 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen led a team of four others to become the first to reach the South Pole.

  • 14th December 1911: Roald Amundsen reaches the South Pole
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13th December 1636: The Massachusetts Bay Colony organised a formal militia, laying the foundations for the US National Guard

Some modern-day Massachusetts National Guard regiments are able to trace their history back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony of 1636.

  • 13th December 1636: The Massachusetts Bay Colony organised a formal militia, laying the foundations for the US National Guard
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12th December 1935: Nazis introduce Lebensborn programme

On the 12th December 1935, the Lebensborn registered association was established in Nazi Germany by the SS.

  • 12th December 1935: Nazis introduce Lebensborn programme
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11th December 1941: Nazi Germany declares war on the USA

Approximately six hours after Germany’s declaration of war, the United States declared war on Germany.

  • 11th December 1941: Nazi Germany declares war on the USA
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© Scott Allsop
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