In History, Today on December 21

The Battle of Curalaba took place, marking a significant victory for the Mapuche people against Spanish colonial forces in Chile. This event initiated a period of Mapuche resistance known as the Destruction of the Seven Cities.

The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers opened their store, marking the beginning of the cooperative movement.

The Challenger expedition, a pioneering oceanographic expedition, set sail from Portsmouth, England, marking the beginning of modern oceanography.

The world premiere of Henrik Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House' takes place at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World, created by journalist Arthur Wynne, marking the beginning of a popular pastime.

The first full-length animated feature film, Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,' premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon, was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, marking a significant achievement in the space race.

Elvis Presley met President Richard Nixon at the White House, a famous meeting where Presley expressed his desire to help combat drug use.

Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground, leading to international investigations and sanctions.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced the creation of the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) program, aimed at developing unmanned aerial vehicles for combat purposes.

The world did not end, contrary to the popular interpretation of the Mayan calendar, which some believed predicted an apocalypse on this date.

SpaceX successfully lands its Falcon 9 rocket's first stage on solid ground for the first time, marking a significant milestone in reusable rocket technology.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Syria and the lifting of sieges, particularly in Aleppo, to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians.

The United States Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a major overhaul of the U.S. tax code, which included significant tax cuts for corporations and individuals.

A partial government shutdown began in the United States after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to agree on a budget, primarily due to disputes over funding for a border wall.

The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurs, where the two planets appear closest together in the sky since 1623, an event sometimes referred to as the 'Christmas Star'.