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 20 Sunday, December 20, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 20 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
5
Holidays
1046
Religion 980 years ago
Emperor Henry III convenes the synod of Sutri to mediate between different claimants to the papacy.
Emperor Henry III convenes the Synod of Sutri to resolve disputes among three competing papal claimants, deposing two and accepting the resignation of the third.
History
What happened on December 20
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 69World history
Antonius Primus enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor for Nero's former general Vespasian.
Antonius Primus marches into Rome to proclaim Vespasian, a former general under Nero, as emperor.
- 944European history
Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos is arrested by two of his sons, forced to abdicate and to live as a monk for the rest of his life.
Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos is arrested by two of his sons, forced to abdicate, and spends the remainder of his life in monastic exile.
- 1046Religion
Emperor Henry III convenes the synod of Sutri to mediate between different claimants to the papacy.
Emperor Henry III convenes the Synod of Sutri to resolve disputes among three competing papal claimants, deposing two and accepting the resignation of the third.
- 1192Royalty
Richard I of England is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England after the Third Crusade.
Richard I is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria while returning from the Third Crusade.
- 1334Religion
Cardinal Jacques Fournier, a Cistercian monk, is elected Pope Benedict XII.
Jacques Fournier, a Cistercian monk and cardinal, is elected Pope Benedict XII, becoming the third pope of the Avignon Papacy.
- 1803US history
The Louisiana Purchase is completed at a ceremony in New Orleans.
The United States completes the Louisiana Purchase, acquiring over 827,000 square miles of land from France.
- 1860US history
South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States with the South Carolina Declaration of Secession.
South Carolina adopts a declaration of secession, becoming the first state to attempt to leave the Union.
- 1952Disaster
A United States Air Force C-124 crashes and burns in Moses Lake, Washington, killing 87 of the 115 people on board.
A United States Air Force C-124 crashes and burns in Moses Lake, Washington, killing 87 of the 115 people on board.
- 1955UK history
Cardiff is proclaimed the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom.
Cardiff becomes the capital city of Wales.
- 2004Crime
A gang of thieves steal £26.5 million worth of currency from the Donegall Square West headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, one of the largest bank robberies in British history.
A gang steals £26.5 million from the Northern Bank in Belfast, making it one of Britain's largest bank heists.
- 2024Crime
Six people are killed and over 200 are injured when an anti-Islam activist drives a car into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany.
A driver plows into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six and injuring over 200.
- 2024Crime
A mass stabbing occurs in a primary school in Zagreb, Croatia, in which a 7-year-old pupil is killed and six more are injured by a knife-wielding 19-year-old male.
A mass stabbing at a primary school in Zagreb leaves one 7-year-old dead and six others injured.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 20
7 this date All birthdays
Sivakant Tiwari
Indian-Singaporean lawyer and author
Sivakant Tiwari, the Indian-Singaporean lawyer who served as a senior legal officer in the Singapore Legal Service, was born today in 1945.
Born
1945
Died
2010
Ferdinand Buisson
French academic and politician, Nobel Prize laureate
1841 – 1932
Judy LaMarsh
Canadian soldier, lawyer, and politician, 42nd Secretary of State for Canada
1924 – 1980
Rana Bhagwandas
Pakistani lawyer and judge, Chief Justice of Pakistan
1942 – 2015
Doug Nordquist
American high jumper
b. 1958 · 68
Yoon Kye-sang
South Korean singer
b. 1978 · 48
Marta Xargay
Spanish basketball player
b. 1990 · 36
Music
The number one songs on December 20
Across the years Full chart history
🇬🇧 #1 on December 20, 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 20, 1982
Aston Villa shock Bayern Munich for the European Cup
In Rotterdam, late substitute Peter Withe scores the winner as Villa lift the trophy on their first attempt.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 20, 1951
The EBR-1 in Arco, Idaho becomes the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity. The electricity powered four light bulbs.
The Experimental Breeder Reactor-I in Arco, Idaho generates electricity for the first time, powering four light bulbs.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
5 celebrated today
Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana)
International
Cafres or Kafs, are people born in Réunion of African origins
Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar)
International
On 20 December 1938, Bo Aung Kyaw was killed during a mounted police charge by the British Indian Imperial Police during the third Rangoon University student boycott
Earliest date for Winter solstice's eve (Northern Hemisphere), and its related observances: Yaldā (Iran)
International
Yaldā Night or Chelle Night is an ancient festival in Iran, Kurdistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan that is celebrated on the winter solstice of the Northern Hemisphere
International Human Solidarity Day (International)
International
International Human Solidarity Day (IHSD), observed on December 20, is an international annual unity day of the United Nations and its member states
Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau)
International
Public holidays in Macau are dates assigned by the Government of Macau allowing the public administration staff to rest instead of working