December’s Moon is most commonly known as the Cold Moon—a Mohawk name that conveys the frigid conditions of this time of year, when cold weather truly begins to grip us. Read more about December’s Cold Moon here.
Daily Calendar for Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Daily Calendar
View daily calendar information including holidays, advice, and daily features.
Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Born
- Axel Fredrik Cronstedt (Swedish scientist) –
- Joseph Smith (religious leader; organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) –
- Madam C. J. Walker (entrepreneur, philanthropist, social activist) –
- Robert Bly (poet) –
- Marsha Gomez (Sculptor and activist; born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) –
- Eddie Vedder (musician) –
Died
- Jack Webb (actor) –
- Marjorie Child Husted (home economist, helped create Betty Crocker) –
- Victor Borge (comedian & pianist) –
Events
- Saturn’s moon Rhea discovered –
- George Washington resigned as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia, with no inkling that he would be drafted to President 6 years later –
- A Visit From St. Nicholas, attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, first published –
- Part of Vincent Van Gogh’s left ear was cut off –
- Reginald Fessenden became the first person to transmit voice over a wireless radio –
- Transistor first demonstrated –
- Jeanne Sauvé was appointed governor-general of Canada –
- Lorenza Mungin caught a record-setting 20-lb. 9-oz. southern flounder in Nassau Sound, Florida. –
- U.S. pilots, Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager, landed the experimental aircraft Voyager in California after a record 9-day 4-minute nonstop flight around the world without refueling –
Weather
- Ships were lost in a storm on Long Island Sound –
- Strong northerly winds generated a windchill of -100 degrees F in North Dakota –
- Williston, North Dakota, recorded a temperature of -50 degrees F –
- 9.6 inches of snow fell in Wilmington, North Carolina –