December 29: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
Inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, knights loyal to King Henry II cut down Archbishop Thomas Becket—an act of violence that transformed him overnight into one of Christianity's most revered martyrs.
About December 29
December 29 carries a quiet weight of national reinvention. In 1911, Mongolia broke free from the collapsing Qing dynasty and enthroned the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan, reclaiming sovereignty after centuries of subjugation. Twenty-six years later, in 1937, the Irish Free State adopted a new constitution, formally replacing itself with the state of Ireland—a profound assertion of cultural and political identity that resonates every Constitution Day.
The date also echoes with moments that reshaped the physical world. When HMS Warrior slid into the water in 1860, her iron hull, armor plating, and screw propeller made every wooden warship on the planet instantly obsolete. Half a century earlier, in 1812, the USS Constitution captured HMS Java after a fierce three-hour duel off Brazil, boosting American morale in a war that would define the young republic's naval ambitions.
And then there are the quieter turning points. In 1913, Cecil B. DeMille began rolling cameras on The Squaw Man, effectively launching Hollywood's feature-film industry. In 1989, as communist regimes crbled across Eastern Europe, the Czech dissident Václav Havel—imprisoned only months earlier—was elected Czechoslovakia's first post-communist president, proving that December 29 can herald beginnings as well as endings.
Holidays & Observances on December 29
- Constitution Day (Ireland)
- Independence Day (Mongolia)
- The fifth day of Christmas (Western Christianity)
- The fourth day of Kwanzaa (United States)
Fun & National Days on December 29
- National Pepper Pot Day — Warm up with a steaming bowl of this spicy American Revolutionary War-era stew.
- National "Get on the Scales" Day — Face the music before January resolutions—step on and see where you stand.
- Still Need to Do Day — That end-of-year to-do list isn't going to finish itself; tackle it today.
- Tick Tock Day — The clock is winding down on the year—scramble to finish your lingering goals.
On This Day in History
- 1170 — Knights loyal to King Henry II murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral, turning him into a revered Christian martyr.
- 1607 — Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan chief Wahunsenacawh, reportedly pleaded successfully for John Smith's life before tribal executioners.
- 1812 — The USS Constitution, commanded by Captain William Bainbridge, seized HMS Java following a grueling three-hour naval battle off Brazil's coast.
- 1845 — The United States officially annexed the Republic of Texas, welcoming it into the Union as the 28th state.
- 1860 — HMS Warrior launched with an iron hull, iron armor, and screw propeller, instantly rendering every existing wooden warship obsolete.
- 1890 — United States 7th Cavalry troops killed approximately 300 Lakota people at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
- 1911 — Mongolia declared independence from the Qing dynasty and enthroned the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu as Khagan.
- 1913 — Cecil B. DeMille began filming The Squaw Man, marking the dawn of Hollywood's feature-length movie industry.
- 1937 — A new constitution replaced the Irish Free State with the state of Ireland, a landmark moment of national self-definition.
- 1989 — Czech dissident and playwright Václav Havel was elected Czechoslovakia's first president following the fall of communist rule.
- 1996 — Guatemala's government and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity signed a peace accord, ending a brutal 36-year civil war.
- 1998 — Khmer Rouge leaders publicly apologized for the Cambodian genocide, which had claimed more than one million lives.
Famous Birthdays on December 29
- 1800 — Charles Goodyear, American chemist who pioneered the vulcanization of rubber, transforming it into a durable commercial material.
- 1808 — Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States, who assumed office after Abraham Lincoln's assassination and narrowly survived impeachment.
- 1809 — William Ewart Gladstone, Four-time British Prime Minister and towering Victorian-era statesman known for sweeping political reforms.
- 1876 — Pablo Casals, Catalan cellist and conductor widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century.
- 1936 — Mary Tyler Moore, American actress and producer who redefined television's portrayal of independent, working women.
- 1946 — Marianne Faithfull, English singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame in the 1960s and forged a lasting solo career.
- 1947 — Ted Danson, American actor beloved for his iconic roles in Cheers and The Good Place.
- 1972 — Jude Law, English actor acclaimed for roles in films from The Talented Mr. Ripley to Sherlock Holmes.