Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
December 1 Tuesday, December 1, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 1 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
8
Holidays
2006
Culture 20 years ago
The law on same-sex marriage comes into force in South Africa, legalizing same-sex marriage for the first time on the African continent.
South Africa becomes the first country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage.
History
What happened on December 1
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 800Religion
A council is convened in the Vatican, at which Charlemagne is to judge the accusations against Pope Leo III.
A council convenes in the Vatican where Charlemagne judges accusations against Pope Leo III.
- 1420Royalty
Henry V of England enters Paris alongside his father-in-law King Charles VI of France.
Henry V enters Paris alongside his father-in-law King Charles VI, consolidating English control over northern France during the Hundred Years' War.
- 1577UK history
Courtiers Christopher Hatton and Thomas Heneage are knighted by Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Christopher Hatton and Thomas Heneage are knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.
- 1640European history
End of the Iberian Union: Portugal acclaims as King João IV of Portugal, ending 59 years of personal union of the crowns of Portugal and Spain and the end of the rule of the Philippine Dynasty.
João IV is acclaimed king of Portugal, ending the Iberian Union and the Philippine Dynasty's rule.
- 1662UK history
Diarist John Evelyn records skating on the frozen lake in St James's Park, London, watched by Charles II and Queen Catherine.
John Evelyn records skating on a frozen lake in St James's Park, observed by King Charles II and Queen Catherine.
- 1768World history
The slave ship Fredensborg sinks off Tromøya in Norway.
The slave ship Fredensborg sinks off Tromøya, resulting in the loss of nearly all on board.
- 1865US history
Shaw University, the first historically black university in the southern United States, is founded in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Shaw University becomes the first historically black university in the Southern United States, established in Raleigh.
- 1878US history
President Rutherford B. Hayes gets the first telephone installed in the White House.
President Rutherford B. Hayes has the first telephone installed in the White House, though with few people to call, he rarely uses it.
- 1971Politics
Purge of Croatian Spring leaders starts in Yugoslavia at the meeting of the League of Communists at the Karađorđevo estate.
Communist officials begin purging Croatian Spring leaders during a League of Communists meeting at the Karađorđevo estate.
- 1984Technology
NASA conducts the Controlled Impact Demonstration, wherein an airliner is deliberately crashed in order to test technologies and gather data to help improve survivability of crashes.
NASA crashes an airliner to test crash-impact technologies and gather data to enhance passenger safety.
- 2000Politics
Vicente Fox Quesada is inaugurated as the president of Mexico, marking the first peaceful transfer of executive federal power to an opposing political party following a free and democratic election in Mexico's history.
Vicente Fox Quesada is inaugurated as Mexico's president, marking the country's first peaceful transfer of power to an opposition party after a free election.
- 2006Culture
The law on same-sex marriage comes into force in South Africa, legalizing same-sex marriage for the first time on the African continent.
South Africa becomes the first country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 1
7 this date All birthdays
Archie MacLaren
English cricketer
Archie MacLaren, the English cricketer who captained England in 22 Test matches and led the team through four Ashes series against Australia, was born in 1871.
Born
1871
Died
1944
Alicia Markova
English ballerina and choreographer
1910 – 2004
Larry Walker
Canadian baseball player and coach
b. 1966 · 60
Andrew Adamson
New Zealand director, producer, and screenwriter
b. 1966 · 60
Farah Shah
Pakistani actress and host
b. 1975 · 51
Iftikhar Anjum
Pakistani cricketer
b. 1980 · 46
DeSean Jackson
American football player
b. 1986 · 40
Music
The number one songs on December 1
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 1, 1981
"Stand and Deliver"
by Adam and the Ants
The dandy highwayman spent five weeks at the top — a brash, glam-pop coronation.
#1 for 5 weeks
Also #1 on this day
- 1965"Ticket To Ride"— The Beatles
- 1972"Metal Guru"— T. Rex
- 2003"Make Luv"— Room 5 ft. Oliver Cheatham
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport December 1, 2019
Arsenal Women 11-1 Bristol City Women breaks the record for most goals scored in a FA Women's Super League match, with Vivianne Miedema involved in ten of the eleven Arsenal goals.
Vivianne Miedema scores or assists ten goals as Arsenal Women defeat Bristol City Women 11-1, setting a new record for most goals in a FA Women's Super League match.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 1, 2020
The Arecibo Telescope collapses.
The Arecibo Observatory's 900-ton platform crashes into the telescope dish, ending its operational life.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
8 celebrated today
Battle of the Sinop Day (Russia)
International
The Days of Military Honour are special memorable dates in the Russian Armed Forces dedicated to the most outstanding victories won by Russia
Damrong Rajanubhab Day (Thailand)
International
Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors
First President Day (Kazakhstan)
International
First President's Day , officially Day of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is an annual commemorative day in Kazakhstan, observed on 1 December
Freedom and Democracy Day (Chad)
International
Freedom and Democracy Day is a national holiday in Chad, falling on 1 December
Great Union Day, celebrates the union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918 (Romania)
International
Great Union Day, also called Unification Day or National Day, is a Romanian national holiday celebrated on 1 December to mark the 1918 Great Union
Military Abolition Day (Costa Rica)
International
The Public Force of Costa Rica is the national law enforcement agency of Costa Rica, whose duties include internal security and border control