December 21 is the 355th day of the year. There are 10 days remaining until the end of the year. This date is slightly more likely to fall on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday (58 in 400 years each) than on Saturday or Sunday (57), and slightly less likely to occur on a Tuesday or Thursday (56).
+ 1826 – American settlers in Nacogdoches, Mexican Texas, declare their independence, starting the Fredonian Rebellion.
+ 1937 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world's first full-length animated feature, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre.
+ 1968 – Apollo program: Apollo 8 is launched from the Kennedy Space Center, placing its crew on a lunar trajectory for the first visit to another celestial body by humans.
( Births )
+ 1795 – Jack Russell, English priest, hunter, and dog breeder (d. 1883)
+ 1935 – Phil Donahue, American talk show host and producer
+ 1940 – Frank Zappa, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 1993)
+ 1948 – Samuel L. Jackson, American actor and producer
+ 1954 – Chris Evert, American tennis player and coach
+ 1957 – Ray Romano, American actor, producer, and screenwriter