December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars. It is one of seven months with the length of 31 days. December is the first month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, December is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Northern hemisphere, which is the first month of summer. December is the month with the shortest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
December symbols: Its birth flower is the narcissus. The birthstones of December are the turquoise, zircon, and tanzanite. The zodiac signs for the month of December are Sagittarius (until December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 onwards).
Historical Events for December, 1944
Day of Week 17th » World War II: Battle of the Bulge Malmedy massacre American 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion Prisoner of war or POWs are shot by Waffen-SS Kampfgruppe Joachim Peiper known as Peiper.
Day of Week 18th » World War II: 77 Boeing B-29 Superfortress e.g B-29 Superfortress and 200 other aircraft of U.S. Fourteenth Air Force bomb Hankou named Hankow, China, a Japanese supply base.
Day of Week 22nd » World War II: Battle of the Bulge Nazi Germany known as German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!"
Day of Week 28th » Maurice Richard becomes the first player to score 8 points in one game of National Hockey League called NHL ice hockey.
Day of Week 30th » King George II of Greece declares a regency, leaving the throne vacant.
Day of Week 31st » World War II: Hungary declares war on Nazi Germany.
31st » World War II: Operation Nordwind, the last major German offensive on the Western Front (World War II) named Western Front begins.
3rd » Craig Raine, English poet, author, and playwright
3rd » Ralph McTell, English singer-songwriter and guitarist
4th » Chris Hillman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (The Byrds, The Hillmen, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Manassas (band) called Manassas)
4th » Anna McGarrigle, Canadian singer-songwriter (Kate and Anna McGarrigle and Mountain City Four)
4th » François Migault, French race car driver (d. 2012)
4th » Dennis Wilson, American singer-songwriter, producer, and drummer (The Beach Boys) (d. 1983)
5th » Jeroen Krabbé, Dutch actor, director, and producer
7th » Jamiel Chagra, American drug trafficker (d. 2008)
7th » Daniel Chorzempa, American organist and composer
7th » Miroslav Macek, Czech dentist and politician
8th » George Baker (musician) named George Baker, Dutch singer-songwriter
8th » Ted Irvine, Canadian ice hockey player
8th » Vince MacLean, Canadian educator and politician
9th » Neil Innes, English singer-songwriter and actor (Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and The Rutles)
13th » Hwang Jang Lee, Japanese-South Korean martial artist and actor
13th » Marti Webb, English actress and singer
14th » Graham Kirkham, Baron Kirkham, English businessman, founded DFS (British retailer) or DFS
15th » Jim Leyland, American baseball player and manager
15th » Chico Mendes, Brazilian union leader and activist (d. 1988)
16th » Jeff Kanew, American director and screenwriter
16th » Don Meyer, American basketball player and coach (d. 2014)
17th » Jack L. Chalker, American author and educator (d. 2005)
17th » Carlo M. Croce, Italian-American oncologist
17th » Bernard Hill, English actor
17th » Timo K. Mukka, Swedish-Finnish author (d. 1973)
18th » Crispian Steele-Perkins, English trumpet player
19th » William Christie (harpsichordist) named William Christie, American-French harpsichord player and conductor (Les Arts Florissants (ensemble) called Les Arts Florissants)
19th » Mitchell Feigenbaum, American physicist and mathematician
19th » Richard Leakey, Kenyan paleontologist and politician
19th » Alvin Lee, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (Ten Years After) (d. 2013)
19th » Tim Reid, American actor and director
20th » Bobby Colomby, American drummer and producer (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
20th » Jimmie F. Skaggs, American actor (d. 2004)
21st » Bill Atkinson (footballer) known as Bill Atkinson, English footballer and referee (d. 2013)
21st » Michael Tilson Thomas, American pianist, composer, and conductor