text:
Damages

At common law, damages are a remedy in the form of a monetary award to be paid to a claimant as compensation for loss or injury. To warrant the award, the claimant must show that a breach of duty has caused foreseeable loss. To be recognized at law, the loss must involve damage to property, or mental or physical injury; pure economic loss is rarely recognized for the award of damages.

Compensatory damages are further categorized into special damages, which are economic losses such as loss of earnings, property damage and medical expenses, and general damages, which are non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress. Rather than being compensatory, at common law damages may instead be nominal, contemptuous or exemplary.

History
Among the Saxons, a monetary value called a weregild was assigned to every human being and every piece of property in the Salic Code. If property was stolen or someone was injured or killed, the guilty person had to pay the weregild as restitution to the victim's family or to the owner of the property.

Proximate cause
Recovery of damages by a plaintiff in lawsuit is subject to the legal principle that damages must be proximately caused by the wrongful conduct of the defendant. This is known as the principle of proximate cause. This principle governs the recovery of all compensatory damages, whether the underlying claim is based on contract, tort, or both. Damages are likely to be limited to those reasonably foreseeable by the defendant. If a defendant could not reasonably have foreseen that someone might be hurt by their actions, there may be no liability.

This rule does not usually apply to intentional torts (for example, tort of deceit), and also has stunted applicability to the quantum in negligence where the maxim 'Intended consequences are never too remote' applies: 'never' is inaccurate here but resorts to unforeseeable direct and natural consequences of an act.

Expert testimony
It may be useful for the lawyers, the plaintiff and/or the defendant to employ forensic accountants or someone trained in the relevant field of economics to give evidence on the value of the loss. In this case, they may be called upon to give opinion evidence as an expert witness.

Compensatory damages
Compensatory damages are paid to compensate the claimant for loss, injury, or harm suffered by the claimant as a result of another's breach of duty that caused the loss. For example, compensatory damages may be awarded as the result of a negligence claim under tort law. Expectation damages are used in contract law to put an injured party in the position it would have occupied but for the breach. Compensatory damages can be classified as special damages and general damages.

Quantum (measure) of damages
Liability for payment of an award of damages is established when the claimant proves, on the balance of probabilities, that a defendant's wrongful act caused a tangible, harm, loss or injury to the plaintiff. Once that threshold is met, the plaintiff is entitled to some amount of recovery for that loss or injury. No recovery is not an option. The court must then assess the amount of compensation attributable to the harmful acts of the defendant. The amount of damages a plaintiff would recover is usually measured on a "loss of bargain" basis, also known as expectation loss, or "economic loss". This concept reflects the difference between "the value of what has been received and its value as represented".

Damages are usually assessed at the date of the wrongful act, but in England and Wales, Pelling J has observed that this is not the case if justice requires the assessment of damages to be calculated at some other date. In Murfin v Ford Campbell, an agreement had been entered into whereby company shares were exchanged for loan notes, which could only be redeemed if certain profit thresholds had been achieved in the relevant accounting years. As the thresholds were not met, the loan notes were not redeemable, but at the date of the advisors' breach of contract this could not be known, only the loan notes' face value could be known. The conclusion was that in this case valuation could not be done until after the profit performance became known. In his judgement Pelling also referred to the case of Smith New Court Securities Ltd v Scrimgeour Vickers (Asset Management) Ltd, a case where continuing misrepresentation affected the appropriate date for damages to be assessed.

Special damages
Special damages compensate the claimant for the quantifiable monetary losses he has suffered. For example, extra costs, repair or replacement of damaged property, lost earnings (both historically and in the future), loss of irreplaceable items, additional domestic costs, and so on. They are seen in both personal and commercial actions.

Special damages can include direct losses (such as amounts the claimant had to spend to try to mitigate damages) and consequential or economic losses resulting from lost profits in a business.

Damages in tort are awarded generally to place the claimant in the position in which he would have been had the tort not taken place. Damages for breach of contract are generally awarded to place the claimant in the position in which he would have been had the contract not been breached. This can often result in a different measure of damages. In cases where it is possible to frame a claim in either contract or tort, it is necessary to be aware of what gives the best outcome. If the transaction was a "good bargain", contract generally gives a better result for the claimant.

As an example, Neal agrees to sell Mary an antique Rolex watch for £100. In fact the watch is a fake and worth only £50. If it had been a genuine antique Rolex, it would have been worth £500. Neal is in breach of contract and could be sued. In contract, Mary is entitled to an item worth £500, but she has only one worth £50. Her damages are £450. Neal also induced Mary to enter into the contract through a misrepresentation (a tort). If Mary sues in tort, she is entitled to damages that put her back to the same financial position place she would have been in had the misrepresentation not been made. She would clearly not have entered into the contract knowing the watch was fake and is entitled to her £100 back. Thus her damages in tort are £100. (However, she would have to return the watch, or else her damages would be £50.)

If the transaction were a "bad bargain", tort gives a better result for the claimant. If in the above example, Mary had overpaid, paying £750 for the watch, her damages in the contract would still be £450 (giving her the item she contracted to buy), however, in tort damages are £700. This is because damages in tort put her in the position she would have been in had the tort not taken place, and are calculated as her money back (£750) less the value of what she actually got (£50).

Incidental and consequential losses
Special damages are sometimes divided into incidental damages, and consequential damages.

Incidental losses include the costs needed to remedy problems and put things right. The largest element is likely to be the reinstatement of property damage. Take for example a factory which was burnt down by the negligence of a contractor. The claimant would be entitled to the direct costs required to rebuild the factory and replace the damaged machinery.

The claimant may also be entitled to any consequential losses. These may include the lost profits that the claimant could have been expected to make in the period whilst the factory was closed and rebuilt.

Breach of contract duty - (ex contract)
On a breach of contract by a defendant, a court generally awards the sum that would restore the injured party to the economic position they expected from performance of the promise or promises (known as an "expectation measure" or "benefit-of-the-bargain" measure of damages). This rule, however, has attracted increasing scrutiny from Australian courts and legal commentators. A judge arrives compensatory number by considering both the type of contract, and the loss incurred.

When it is either not possible or not desirable to award the victim in that way, a court may award money damages designed to restore the injured party to the economic position they occupied at the time the contract was entered (known as the "reliance measure") or designed to prevent the breaching party from being unjustly enriched ("restitution") (see below).

Parties may contract for liquidated damages to be paid upon a breach of the contract by one of the parties. Under common law, a liquidated damages clause will not be enforced if the purpose of the term is solely to punish a breach (in this case it is termed penal damages). The clause will be enforceable if it involves a genuine attempt to quantify a loss in advance and is a good faith estimate of economic loss. Courts have ruled as excessive and invalidated damages which the parties contracted as liquidated, but which the court nonetheless found to be penal. To determine whether a clause is a liquidated damages clause or a penalty clause, it is necessary to consider:

i) Whether the clause is 'extravagant, out of all proportion, exorbitant or unconscionable'

ii) Whether there is a single sum stipulated for a number of different breaches, or individual sums for each breach

iii) Whether a genuine pre-estimate of damage is ascertainable

Breach of tort duty - (ex delicto)
Damages in tort are generally awarded to place the claimant in the position that would have been taken had the tort not taken place. Damages in tort are quantified under two headings: general damages and special damages.

In personal injury claims, damages for compensation are quantified by reference to the severity of the injuries sustained (see below general damages for more details). In non-personal injury claims, for instance, a claim for professional negligence against solicitors, the measure of damages will be assessed by the loss suffered by the client due to the negligent act or omission by the solicitor giving rise to the loss. The loss must be reasonably foreseeable and not too remote. Financial losses are usually simple to quantify but in complex cases which involve loss of pension entitlements and future loss projections, the instructing solicitor will usually employ a specialist expert actuary or accountant to assist with the quantification of the loss.

General damages
General damages are monetary compensation for the non-monetary aspects of the specific harm suffered. These damages are sometimes termed "pain, suffering and loss of amenity". Examples of this include physical or emotional pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, disfigurement, loss of reputation, impairment of mental or physical capacity, hedonic damages or loss of enjoyment of life, etc. This is not easily quantifiable, and depends on the individual circumstances of the claimant. Judges in the United Kingdom base the award on damages awarded in similar previous cases. In 2012 the Court of Appeal of England and Wales noted that "this court has not merely the power, but a positive duty, to monitor, and where appropriate to alter, the guideline rates for general damages in personal injury actions." General damages in England and Wales were increased by 10% for all cases where judgements were given after 1 April 2013, following changes to the options available to personal injury claimants wanting to cover the cost of their litigation.

General damages are generally awarded only in claims brought by individuals, when they have suffered personal harm. Examples would be personal injury (following the tort of negligence by the defendant), or the tort of defamation.

General damages in personal injury cases
The quantification of personal injury is not an exact science. In English law solicitors treat personal injury claims as "general damages" for pain and suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Solicitors quantify personal injury claims by reference to previous awards made by the courts which are "similar" to the case in hand. The Judicial College's Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases are adjusted following periodic review of the awards which have been made by the courts since the previous review.

The guidance which solicitors will take into account to help quantify general damages are:

The age of the client is important especially when dealing with fatal accident claims or permanent injuries. The younger the injured victim with a permanent injury the longer that person has to live with the PSLA. As a consequence, the greater the compensation payment. In fatal accident claims, generally the younger deceased, the greater the dependency claim by the partner and children.
 * The age of the client

Solicitors will consider "like for like" injuries with the case in hand and similar cases decided by the courts previously. These cases are known as precedents. Generally speaking decisions from the higher courts will bind the lower courts. Therefore, judgments from the House of Lords and the Court of Appeal have greater authority than the lower courts such as the High Court and the County Court. A compensation award can only be right or wrong with reference to that specific judgment. Solicitors must be careful when looking at older cases when quantifying a claim to ensure that the award is brought up to date and to take into account the court of appeal case in Heil v Rankin Generally speaking the greater the injury the greater the damages awarded.
 * The nature and extent of the injuries sustained

This heading is inextricably linked with the other points above. Where two clients are of the same age, experience and suffer the same injury, it does not necessarily mean that they will be affected the same. We are all different. Some people will recover more quickly than others. The courts will assess each claim on its own particular facts and therefore if one claimant recovers more quickly than another, the damages will be reflected accordingly. It is important to note here that "psychological injuries" may also follow from an accident which may increase the quantum of damages.
 * Personal attributes and fortitude of the client

When a personal injury claim is settled either in court or out of court, the most common way the compensation payment is made is by a lump sum award in full and final settlement of the claim. Once accepted there can be no further award for compensation at a later time unless the claim is settled by provisional damages often found in industrial injury claims such as asbestos related injuries.

Statutory damages
Statutory damages are an amount stipulated within the statute rather than calculated based on the degree of harm to the plaintiff. Lawmakers will provide for statutory damages for acts in which it is difficult to determine the value of the harm to the victim. Mere violation of the law can entitle the victim to a statutory award, even if no actual injury occurred. These are different from nominal damages, in which no written sum is specified.

Nominal damages
Nominal damages are very small damages awarded to show that the loss or harm suffered was technical rather than actual. Perhaps the most famous nominal damages award in modern times has been the $1 verdict against the National Football League (NFL) in the 1986 antitrust suit prosecuted by the United States Football League. Although the verdict was automatically trebled pursuant to antitrust law in the United States, the resulting $3 judgment was regarded as a victory for the NFL. Historically, one of the best known nominal damage awards was the farthing that the jury awarded to James Whistler in his libel suit against John Ruskin. In the English jurisdiction, nominal damages are generally fixed at £5.

Many times a party that has been wronged but is not able to prove significant damages will sue for nominal damages. This is particularly common in cases involving alleged violations of constitutional rights, such as freedom of speech. Until 2021, in the United States, there was a circuit split as to whether nominal damages may be used if a constitutional violation had occurred but has since been rendered moot. The Supreme Court decided 8–1 in the 2021 case Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski that nominal damages are appropriate means to redress violated rights otherwise now rendered moot.

Contemptuous damages
Contemptuous damages are a form of damage award available in some jurisdictions. They are similar to nominal damages awards, as they are given when the plaintiff's suit is trivial, used only to settle a point of honor or law. Awards are usually of the smallest amount, usually 1 cent or similar. The key distinction is that in jurisdictions that follow the loser-pays for attorney fees, the claimant in a contemptuous damages case may be required to pay their own attorney fees.

Traditionally, the court awarded the smallest coin in the Realm, which in England was one farthing, 1/960 of a pound before decimalisation in the 1970s. Court costs are not awarded.

Punitive damages (non-compensatory)
Generally, punitive damages, which are also termed exemplary damages in the United Kingdom, are not awarded in order to compensate the plaintiff, but in order to reform or deter the defendant and similar persons from pursuing a course of action such as that which damaged the plaintiff. Punitive damages are awarded only in special cases where conduct was egregiously insidious and are over and above the amount of compensatory damages, such as in the event of malice or intent. Great judicial restraint is expected to be exercised in their application. In the United States punitive damages awards are subject to the limitations imposed by the due process of law clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

In England and Wales, exemplary damages are limited to the circumstances set out by Lord Devlin in the leading case of Rookes v. Barnard. They are:

 * 1) Oppressive, arbitrary or unconstitutional actions by the servants of government.
 * 2) Where the defendant's conduct was 'calculated' to make a profit for himself.
 * 3) Where a statute expressly authorises the same.

Rookes v Barnard has been much criticized and has not been followed in Canada or Australia or by the Privy Council.

Punitive damages awarded in a US case would be difficult to get recognition for in a European court, where punitive damages are most likely to be considered to violate ordre public.

Aggravated damages
Some jurisdictions recognize a form of damages, called, aggravated damages, that are similar to punitive or exemplary damages. Aggravated damages are not often awarded; they apply where the injury has been aggravated by the wrongdoer's behaviour, for example, their cruelty.

Restitutionary or disgorgement damages
In certain areas of the law another head of damages has long been available, whereby the defendant is made to give up the profits made through the civil wrong in restitution. Doyle and Wright define restitutionary damages as being a monetary remedy that is measured according to the defendant's gain rather than the plaintiff's loss. The plaintiff thereby gains damages which are not measured by reference to any loss sustained. In some areas of the law this heading of damages is uncontroversial; most particularly intellectual property rights and breach of fiduciary relationship.

In England and Wales the House of Lords case of Attorney-General v. Blake opened up the possibility of restitutionary damages for breach of contract. In this case the profits made by a defecting spy, George Blake, for the publication of his book, were awarded to the British Government for breach of contract. The case has been followed in English courts, but the situations in which restitutionary damages will be available remain unclear.

The basis for restitutionary damages is much debated, but is usually seen as based on denying a wrongdoer any profit from his wrongdoing. The really difficult question, and one which is currently unanswered, relates to what wrongs should allow this remedy.

Legal costs
In addition to damages, the successful party is often entitled to be awarded their reasonable legal costs that they spent during the case. This is the rule in most countries other than the United States. In the United States, a party generally is not entitled to its attorneys' fees or for hardships undergone during trial unless the parties agreed in a contract that attorney's fees should be covered or a specific statute or law permits recovery of legal fees, such as discrimination.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Damages


text:
Disaster

A disaster is an event that causes serious harm to people, buildings, economies, or the environment, and the affected community cannot handle it alone. Natural disasters like avalanches, floods, earthquakes, and wildfires are caused by natural hazards. Human-made disasters like oil spills, terrorist attacks and power outages are caused by people. Nowadays, it is hard to separate natural and human-made disasters because human actions can make natural disasters worse. Climate change also affects how often disasters due to extreme weather hazards happen.

Disasters usually hit people in developing countries harder than people in wealthy countries. Over 95% of deaths from disasters happen in low-income countries, and those countries lose a lot more money compared to richer countries. For example, the damage from natural disasters is 20 times greater in developing countries than in industrialized countries. This is because low-income countries often do not have well-built buildings or good plans to handle emergencies.

To reduce the damage from disasters, it is important to be prepared and have fit for purpose infrastructure. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) aims to make communities stronger and better prepared to handle disasters. It focuses on actions to reduce risk before a disaster occurs, rather than on response and recovery after the event. DRR and climate change adaptation measures are similar in that they aim to reduce vulnerability of people and places to natural hazards.

When a disaster happens, the response includes actions like warning and evacuating people, rescuing those in danger, and quickly providing food, shelter, and medical care. The goal is to save lives and help people recover as quickly as possible. In some cases, national or international help may be needed to support recovery. This can happen, for example, through the work of humanitarian organisations.

Definition and types
The UN defines a disaster as "a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale". It results from hazards in places where people live in exposed or vulnerable conditions. Some human failures make communities vulnerable to climate hazards. These are poor planning or development, or a lack of preparation.

Disasters are events that have an effect on people. A hazard that overwhelms or injures a community is considered a disaster. The international disaster database EM-DAT defines a disaster as “a situation or event that overwhelms local capacity, necessitating a request for external assistance at the national or international level; it is an unforeseen and often sudden event that causes great damage, destruction and human suffering.”  The effects of a disaster include all human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.

The scale of a disaster matters. Small-scale disasters only affect local communities but need help beyond the affected community. Large-scale disasters affect wider society and need national or international help.

It is usual to divide disasters into natural or human-made. Recently the divide between natural, man-made and man-accelerated disasters has become harder to draw. Some manufactured disasters such as smog and acid rain have been wrongly attributed to nature.

Complex disasters, where there is no single root cause, are more common in developing countries. A specific hazard may also spawn a secondary disaster that increases the impact. A classic example is an earthquake that causes a tsunami. This results in coastal flooding, damaging a nuclear power plant on the coast. The Fukushima nuclear disaster is a case in point. Experts examine these cascading events to see how risks and impacts can amplify and spread. This is particularly important given the increase in climate risks.

Some researchers distinguish between recurring events like seasonal flooding and unpredictable one-off events. Recurring events often carry an estimate of how often they occur. Experts call this the return period.

Related to natural hazards
Disasters with links to natural hazards are commonly called natural disasters. However experts have questioned this term for a long time.

Unrelated to natural hazards
Human-made disasters are serious harmful events caused by human actions and social processes. Technological hazards also fall into this category. That is because they result in human-instigated disasters. Human-made hazards are sometimes called anthropogenic hazards. Examples include criminality, social unrest, crowd crushes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, power outages, oil spills, terrorist attacks, and nuclear explosions/nuclear radiation. Catastrophic climate change, nuclear war, and bioterrorism also fall into this category.

Climate change and environmental degradation are sometimes called socio-natural hazards. These are hazards involving a combination of both natural and human factors. All disasters can be regarded as human-made, because of failure to introduce the right emergency management measures.

Famines may be caused locally by drought, flood, fire or pestilence. In modern times there is plenty of food globally. Long-lasting local shortages are generally due to government mismanagement, violent conflict, or an economic system that does not distribute food where needed.

Major disasters
A study by Sheehan and Hewitt in 1969 defined major disasters as conforming to the following criteria, based on the amount of deaths or damage:
 * At least 100 people dead,
 * at least 100 people injured, or
 * at least $1 million damage

This definition includes indirect losses of life caused after the initial onset of the disaster. These could be the effects of diseases such as cholera or dysentery arising from the disaster. This definition is still commonly used. However it is limited to the number of deaths, injuries, and damage in money terms. UNDRO (1984) defined a disaster in a more qualitative fashion as:

"an event, concentrated in time and space, in which a community undergoes severe danger and incurs such losses to its members and physical appurtenances that the social structure is disrupted and the fulfilment of all or some of the essential functions of the society is prevented."

Like other definitions this looks beyond the social aspects of the disaster impacts. It also focuses on losses. This raises the need for emergency response as an aspect of the disaster. It does not set out quantitative thresholds or scales for damage, death, or injury.

Impacts
The effects of a disaster include all human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.

The Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) records statistics about disasters related to natural hazards. For 2023, EM-DAT recorded 399 disasters, which was higher than the 20-year average of 369.

Economic losses
Between 2016 and 2020 the total reported economic losses amounted to $293 billion. This figure is likely to be an underestimation. It is very challenging to measure the costs of disasters accurately, and many countries lack the resources and technical capacity to do so. Over the 40 year period from 1980-2020 losses were estimated at $5.2 trillion.

Human impacts
In 2023, natural hazard-related disasters resulted in 86,473 fatalities and affected 93.1 million people. Whilst the number of deaths was much higher than the 20-year average of 64,148, the number affected was much lower than the 20-year average of 175.5 million.

According to a UN report, 91% of deaths from hazards from 1970 to 2019 occurred in developing countries. These countries already have higher vulnerability and lower resilience to these events, which exacerbates the effects of the hazards.

Effects of climate change
Hazards such as droughts, floods, and cyclones are naturally occurring phenomena. However, climate change has caused these hazards to become more unreliable, frequent and severe. They thus contribute to disaster risks. Countries contributing most to climate change are often at the lowest risk of feeling the consequences. As of 2019, countries with the highest vulnerability per capita release the lowest amount of emissions per capita, and yet still experience the most heightened droughts and extreme precipitation.

Etymology
The word disaster is derived from Middle French désastre which comes from Old Italian disastro. This in turn comes from the Ancient Greek pejorative prefix δυσ- (-) "bad" and ἀστήρ (), "star". So the word disaster ("bad star" in Greek) comes from an astrological sense of a calamity blamed on the position of planets.

title: Disaster


text:
Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff (born 28 February 1942) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he is the oldest ever winner of the World Cup, which he lifted as captain of the Italy national team in the 1982 tournament, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days. He also won the award for best goalkeeper of the tournament and was elected to the team of the tournament for his performances, keeping two clean-sheets, an honour he also received after winning the 1968 European Championship on home soil. Zoff is the only Italian player to have won both the World Cup and the European Championship. He also achieved great club success with Juventus, winning six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles, and a UEFA Cup, also reaching two European Champions' Cup finals in the 1972–73 and 1982–83 seasons, as well as finishing second in the 1973 Intercontinental Cup final.

Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability, and he has a place in the history of the sport among the very best in this role,  being named the third greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS behind Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks. He holds the record for the longest playing time without allowing goals in international tournaments (1,142 minutes) set between 1972 and 1974. Haiti's Emmanuel Sanon ended the streak at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, in the Haiti–Italy group match. With 112 caps, he is the eighth most capped player for the Italy national team. In 2004, Pelé named Zoff as one of the 100 greatest living footballers. In the same year, Zoff placed fifth in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, and was elected as Italy's golden player of the past 50 years. He also placed second in the 1973 Ballon d'Or, as he narrowly missed out on a treble with Juventus. In 1999, Zoff placed 47th in World Soccer Magazine's 100 Greatest Players of the Twentieth Century.

After retiring as a footballer, Zoff went on to pursue a managerial career, coaching the Italy national team, with which he reached the Euro 2000 final, losing to France, and several Italian club teams, including his former club Juventus, with which he won an UEFA Cup and a Coppa Italia double during the 1989–90 season, trophies he had also won as a player. In September 2014, Zoff published his Italian autobiography Dura solo un attimo, la gloria ("Glory only Lasts a Moment").

Early life
Dino Zoff was born in Mariano del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy into a farming family. Upon his father's suggestion, Zoff initially also pursued studies to be a mechanic in case his football career proved to be unsuccessful. As a young aspiring footballer, Zoff was also interested in other sports, and his two main role models were the cyclist Fausto Coppi, and the race walker Abdon Pamich.

Udinese, Mantova and Napoli

Zoff's career got off to an inauspicious start, when at the age of fourteen he had trials with Inter Milan and Juventus, but was rejected due to a lack of height. Five years later, having grown by 33 centimetres (supposedly due to his grandmother Adelaide's recommended increased daily intake of eight eggs), he made his Serie A debut with Udinese on 24 September 1961, in a 5–2 defeat to Fiorentina, although Zoff was not criticised for any of the goals he conceded. Zoff made only four appearances in his first season for Udinese, as they were relegated to Serie B. He played the next season as the club's starting goalkeeper, helping the club to Serie A promotion, before moving to Mantova in 1963, where he spent four seasons, making 131 appearances.

His performances for Mantova in the top flight caught the attention of larger clubs, while Italy's national coach at the time, Edmondo Fabbri, even considered bringing him as a back-up for the 1966 FIFA World Cup, although he ultimately chose to bring Enrico Albertosi, Roberto Anzolin, and Pierluigi Pizzaballa instead. In 1967, Zoff was transferred to Napoli, in exchange for fellow goalkeeper Claudio Bandoni, and a transfer fee of 130 million Lire; he spent five seasons in Naples, making 143 Serie A appearances with the club. During this time, he began to achieve increasing recognition in Italy, also making his International debut with the Italy national side in 1968, and earning a place in Italy's squads at Euro 68 and the 1970 World Cup.

Juventus
Following his achievements with the national side, and due to his performances during his time with Napoli, Zoff was signed by Juventus in 1972, at the age of 30, where he resumed his success. In eleven years with Juventus, Zoff won the Serie A championship six times, the Coppa Italia twice and the UEFA Cup once, also reaching two European Cup finals, another semi-final in 1978 (during which Zoff played a decisive role in the club's shoot-out victory over Ajax in the quarter-finals by saving two penalties), and the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup during the 1979–80 season. In 1973, he placed second in the Ballon d'Or, following his Serie A title victory, also narrowly missing out on an historical treble with Juventus, after reaching both the European Cup and the Coppa Italia finals that season, in which his club were defeated, however; Juventus also finished as runners-up in the 1973 Intercontinental Cup that year. In winning the 1977 UEFA Cup final against Athletic Bilbao, Zoff came out on top against his 'twin', the Basque goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar.

Overall, Zoff made 479 appearances for Juventus in all competitions, making 330 Serie A appearances with the club (all of which came consecutively, a club record), 74 in the Coppa Italia, 71 in European competitions, and 4 in other club competitions. He is currently Juventus's 6th record appearance holder in all competitions, their 7th all-time appearance holder in Serie A, their 3rd all-time appearance holder in the Coppa Italia, their 7th all-time appearance holder in UEFA club competitions, and their 9th all-time appearance holder in international club competitions.

Zoff won his final Serie A championship with Juventus during the 1981–82 Serie A season, also winning the 1982 FIFA World Cup with Italy that year, as his team's captain. During the following 1982–83 season, the final season of his career, Dino Zoff won the Coppa Italia with defending Serie A champions Juventus, and he reached his second European Cup final with the club in 1983; Juventus were defeated 1–0 by Hamburg in Athens on 25 May, after Zoff was beaten by Felix Magath's long-distance strike; this was the final club match of his career. His final league appearance came in a 4–2 home win over Genoa on 15 May 1983.

Club records
Upon retirement, Zoff held the records for the oldest Serie A player, at the age of 41, and the most Serie A appearances (570 matches) for more than 20 years, until the 2005–06 season, when the records were broken by Lazio goalkeeper Marco Ballotta, and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini respectively. Behind only former AC Milan goalkeeper Sebastiano Rossi, who overtook him during the 1993–94 season, Zoff has conceded the fewest goals in a single Serie A season; behind only Gianluigi Buffon and Sebastiano Rossi, he has also gone the most time unbeaten in Serie A without conceding a goal, producing a 903-minute unbeaten streak during the 1972–73 season, a record that stood until Rossi overtook him in the 1993–94 season; Buffon broke the record during the 2015–16 season. He also held the Serie A record for most consecutive clean sheets alongside Rossi (9), until Gianluigi Buffon overtook them both with his 10th consecutive clean sheet in 2016. With 570 Serie A appearances, Zoff is also the sixth highest appearance holder in Serie A of all time, and he is the fourth oldest player in Serie A to have ever played a match. He holds the record for most consecutive matches played in Serie A (332), a streak which went unbroken from 21 May 1972 (in a 0–0 home draw with Napoli against Bologna), until his final league appearance with Juventus in 1983. At 41 years and 86 days, Zoff is also the oldest player to have appeared in a European Cup or UEFA Champions League final.

International career
Prior to representing the senior Italian side, Zoff had won a gold medal with the Italy under-23 side at the 1963 Mediterranean Games. On 20 April 1968, Zoff made his senior debut for Italy, playing in a 2–0 win against Bulgaria in the quarter finals of the 1968 European Championships, in Naples. Zoff ended up being promoted to starting goalkeeper over his perceived career rival Enrico Albertosi during the tournament, and Italy proceeded to win the European Championship on home soil, with Zoff taking home a winners' medal after only his fourth international appearance, keeping two clean sheets, and winning the award for the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Zoff was left out of the Italian starting eleven in the 1970 World Cup, however, and was Albertosi's deputy throughout the tournament, as Italy went on to reach the final of the World Cup, and were defeated 4–1 by Brazil. He returned to the starting line-up, however, ahead of Albertosi, in Italy's disappointing 1974 World Cup campaign, during which they would be eliminated in the first round.

From 1972 onwards, Zoff became Italy's undisputed number 1, and he participated in the 1978 World Cup with Italy, during which he managed a fourth-place finish, keeping 3 clean-sheets. Italy were eliminated in the semi-final, in a 2–1 loss to the Netherlands. After the match, Zoff was criticised for making a fairly uncommon error, as he was beaten by a strike from distance by Arie Haan. Zoff was also Italy's starting goalkeeper once again at the 1980 European Championships on home soil, however, helping his side to reach the semi-finals, finishing the tournament in fourth place once again. During the 1980 European Championship, Zoff kept three clean sheets, only conceding one goal in the bronze medal match, which Italy would lose on penalties; Zoff was elected as the goalkeeper of the tournament once again, an honour he had previously managed after winning the tournament in 1968. Throughout these two tournaments, Zoff established a record for most consecutive minutes unbeaten in a European Championship, which was later beaten by Iker Casillas in 2012. Zoff had also established the record for most minutes unbeaten European Championship qualifying, which was also beaten, by compatriot Buffon in 2011. He still holds the record, however, for most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at the European Championships including qualifying, having kept eight consecutive cleans sheets between 1975 and 1980, while going unbeaten for 784 minutes. Alongside Casillas, Buffon, and Thomas Myhre, he is the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded in a single edition of the European Championships, having conceded only one goal in the 1968 European Championships; of these players, only Zoff and Casillas won the title while achieving this feat.

Zoff's greatest accomplishment, however, came in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where he captained Italy to victory in the tournament at the age of 40, making him the oldest ever winner of the World Cup; throughout the tournament, he kept two clean sheets, and produced a crucial goal-line save in the final minutes of the last second-round group match against favourites Brazil on 5 July, which enabled the Italians to earn a 3–2 victory and advance to the semi-finals of the competition. On 11 July, at the age of 40 years and 133 days, he became the oldest player ever to feature in a World Cup final; following Italy's 3–1 victory over West Germany at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, he followed in the footsteps of compatriot Gianpiero Combi (1934) as only the second goalkeeper to captain a World Cup-winning side (later Iker Casillas and Hugo Lloris repeated this feat for Spain and France in the 2010 and 2018 World Cups respectively). Due to his performances, he was voted as the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Regarding Zoff's importance during Italy's victorious World Cup campaign, his manager Enzo Bearzot said of him: "He was a level-headed goalkeeper, capable of staying calm during the toughest and the most exhilarating moments. He always held back both out of modesty and respect for his opponents. At the end of the Brazil match, he came over to give me a kiss on the cheek, without saying a single word. For me, that fleeting moment was the most intense of the entire World Cup."

During the flight of return from Spain on a DC-9 airplane, Zoff, Sandro Pertini (the Italian President of Republic), Causio and Bearzot were immortalized in a photo, suddenly gone highly popular, while playing card at scopone scientifico, an Italian social and team sport. In the previous years, the same aircraft had been used by Pertini and Pope John Paul II for private and institutional flights. In April 2017, it was put down back in the Museum of Volandia, near Varese.

Zoff also holds the record for the longest stretch (1,142 minutes) without allowing any goals in international football, set between 1972 and 1974. That clean sheet stretch was ended by Haitian player Manno Sanon's beautiful goal during Italy's 3-1 win over Haiti in the first round of the 1974 World Cup. Zoff made his final appearance for Italy on 29 May 1983, in a 2–0 away loss to Sweden, in a Euro 1984 qualifying match. At the time of his retirement, Zoff's 112 caps were the most ever by a member of the Italy national team. He currently sits in sixth place in this category, as well as second among goalkeepers, with Gianluigi Buffon having surpassed the latter record.

Style of play

Zoff was a traditional, effective, and experienced goalkeeper, who usually favoured efficiency and caution over flamboyance and making saves, although he was also capable of producing spectacular dives and decisive saves when necessary due to his strength and athleticism. He was particularly regarded for his outstanding positioning and handling of the ball, in particular when coming out to collect crosses, as well as his concentration, consistency, calm mindset, and composure under pressure; he was also an elegant player, who possessed good reactions and excellent shot-stopping abilities. Zoff was also noted for his attention to detail during matches, as well as his ability to read the game, anticipate his opponents, communicate with his defenders, and organise his back-line, which also enabled him to start attacking plays quickly from the back after claiming the ball. Despite his serious and reserved character, Zoff also drew praise for his leadership skills, correct behaviour, and competitive spirit, which led him to serve as captain of his national side, and enabled him to inspire a sense of calmness and confidence in his teammates. On occasion, however, Zoff was accused by certain pundits of occasionally struggling when facing long-range shots, and for not always being particularly adept at stopping penalties. Known for his work-rate in training, dedication, and discipline as a footballer, in addition to his goalkeeping skills, Zoff also stood out for his stamina, longevity, and determination, which enabled him to avoid injuries and have an extensive and highly successful career; due to his constant desire to improve himself, he was able to maintain a consistent level of performance throughout his entire career, even with his advancing age towards the end of his career, into his late 30s and early 40s. Considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, in 1999 he was elected in a poll by the IFFHS as the third best goalkeeper of the 20th Century – after Lev Yashin (1st) and Gordon Banks (2nd) – as well as Italy's best keeper of the century, and the second best European keeper of the century – behind only Yashin.

Coaching career
After his retirement as a player, Zoff went into coaching, joining the technical staff at Juventus, initially as a goalkeeping coach, although this experience proved to be unsatisfactory for him. He subsequently coached the Italian Olympic side, his first experience as a coach, helping the team to qualify for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, before returning to Juventus in a coaching role; the Italian Olympic side eventually managed a fourth-place finish in the final tournament. Zoff served as Juventus's head coach from 1988 to 1990. In 1990, he was sacked, however, despite winning the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia during the 1989–90 season, while also helping the club to a third-place finish in the league. He then joined Lazio, where he became the coach in 1994, and later the club's sporting director, winning the Coppa Italia in 1998, and helping the club to an UEFA Cup final the same season, and was defeated by compatriots Inter.

In 1998, Zoff was appointed as the head coach of the Italy national team. Although Italy were still cautious and organised defensively, Zoff used a more open, fluid, and attacking style of play than that used by his more defensive Italian coaching predecessors Cesare Maldini and Arrigo Sacchi. Zoff helped the team to qualify for Euro 2000, and he introduced several younger players to the team, such as Francesco Totti, Gianluca Zambrotta, Stefano Fiore, Massimo Ambrosini, Christian Abbiati, Marco Delvecchio, and Vincenzo Montella. Although Italy were not top favourites because of a young squad, he coached a young Italy squad to a second-place finish in Euro 2000, suffering a 2–1 extra-time defeat at the hands of reigning World Cup Champions France in the final, due to a golden goal by David Trezeguet. En route to the final, a ten-man Italy had eliminated co-hosts the Netherlands in the semi-finals in a penalty shoot-out, after a 0–0 draw, following extra-time, with a tightly contested defensive display against a more offensive-minded Dutch side. In the final of the tournament, Italy had been 1–0 up for most of the second half, and were less than sixty seconds away from winning the tournament, before France forward Sylvain Wiltord scored in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time to equalise, and send the match into extra time. Despite reaching the final, Zoff resigned a few days later, following strong criticism from AC Milan president and politician Silvio Berlusconi. Zoff was voted the World Soccer Manager of the Year in 2000.

Zoff returned to defending Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana champions Lazio as a manager for the next season, replacing Sven-Göran Eriksson in 2001, and finishing third in Serie A. The following season, he resigned on 20 September, after only the third match, due to a poor start to the 2001–02 season. In 2005, he was named the coach of Fiorentina as a replacement for Sergio Buso. Despite saving the team from relegation on the last day of the season, Zoff was let go. This would be the final club he coached.

Style of management
As a manager, Zoff was known for his use of tactics based upon the zona mista system (or "Gioco all'Italiana"), which was a cross between the catenaccio man-marking and zonal marking systems. Although he was initially known for fielding a 4–4–2 formation, at Euro 2000, he used a 5–2–1–2 system with Italy. His teams often used a sweeper, who, in addition to his defensive duties and organisational responsibilities, was also required to start plays from the back. He preferred not to base his team's play on set plays and formations, as he believed that cultivating a good relationship with his players and fostering a winning team mentality were the keys to getting the best out of them, and that this would also allow their natural creativity to come through in matches.

Personal life
Zoff is married to Annamaria Passerini; they have a son, Marco, born in 1967. Zoff is Roman Catholic.

On 28 November 2015, it was reported Zoff was hospitalised for three weeks with a viral neurological infection, which made it difficult for him to walk. On 23 December 2015, it was reported Zoff had been recovering well, however stating, "For the first time in my life, I was actually afraid... When I say scared, I wasn't afraid for myself, but for those around me. My wife, my son, my grandchildren. My tribe, basically. I would've really hurt them by leaving." He also revealed, "One night I saw two figures at the end of my bed. They had the faces of Gaetano Scirea [one of his former, deceased teammates] and Enzo Bearzot [one of his former, deceased coaches]. They were both smiling. I wasn't asleep, it wasn't a dream. I told them: 'Not yet, not now.' And I am still here."

Managerial

 * Updated 8 March 2023

Player
Juventus
 * Serie A: 1972–73, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82
 * Coppa Italia: 1978–79, 1982–83
 * UEFA Cup: 1976–77
 * Intercontinental Cup: Runner-up: 1973
 * European Cup: Runner-up: 1972–73, 1982–83

Italy
 * FIFA World Cup: 1982
 * UEFA European Championship: 1968

Manager
Juventus
 * Coppa Italia: 1989–90
 * UEFA Cup: 1989–90

Italy
 * UEFA European Championship: Runner-up: 2000

Individual
Player
 * UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1968, 1980
 * Ballon d'Or: 1973 (2nd place)
 * FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1982
 * FIFA Order of Merit: 1984
 * FIFA World Cup Best Goalkeeper: 1982
 * FUWO European Team of the Season: 1968
 * World XI: 1968, 1975
 * Sport Ideal European XI: 1973, 1975
 * IFFHS Italian Goalkeeper of the 20th Century: 1999
 * IFFHS European Goalkeeper of the 20th Century (2nd): 1999
 * IFFHS World Goalkeeper of the 20th Century (3rd): 1999
 * World Soccer Magazine's 100 Greatest Players of the Twentieth Century: 1999
 * November 2003: Italy's Golden Player – the best Italian player of the last 50 years, selected by the Italian Football Federation.
 * UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: #5
 * FIFA 100
 * Golden Foot "Football Legends" Award: 2004
 * Inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2012
 * Inducted into the Walk of Fame of Italian sport: 2015
 * IFFHS Legends

Manager
 * Seminatore d'oro: 1990
 * World Soccer Manager of the Year: 2000

Orders

 * Commendatore OMRI BAR.svg 3rd Class / Commander: Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 1982
 * Grande ufficiale OMRI BAR.svg 2nd Class / Grand Officer: Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2000

Records

 * FIFA World Cup: Oldest player to play in and win a final, at 40 years, 4 months and 13 days in 1982
 * UEFA Champions League/European Cup: Oldest player to play in a final, at 41 years and 86 days in 1983
 * Most consecutive appearances in Serie A with Juventus: 330 (1972–1983)
 * Most consecutive appearances in Serie A: 332 (1972–1983)
 * Longest period time without conceding a goal in international matches: 1142 minutes (1972–1974).
 * Most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at the European Championships including qualifying: 784 (1975–1980)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a single edition of the European Championships: 1 (1968) (alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, and Thomas Myhre)
 * Fewest goals conceded in a single edition of the European Championships by a tournament-winning starting goalkeeper: 1 (1968) (alongside Iker Casillas)
 * One of four goalkeepers to win the FIFA World Cup as captain: 1982 (alongside Gianpiero Combi, Iker Casillas, and Hugo Lloris)

title: Dino Zoff


text:
Dipsacales

The Dipsacales are an order of flowering plants, included within the asterid group of dicotyledons. In the APG III system of 2009, the order includes only two families, Adoxaceae and a broadly defined Caprifoliaceae. Some well-known members of the Dipsacales order are honeysuckle, elder, viburnum, and valerian.

Under the Cronquist system, the order included Adoxaceae, Caprifoliaceae sensu stricto, Dipsacaceae, and Valerianaceae. Under the 2003 APG II system, the circumscription of the order was much the same but the system allowed either a broadly circumscribed Caprifoliaceae including the families Diervillaceae, Dipsacaceae, Linnaeaceae, Morinaceae, and Valerianaceae, or these families being kept separate. The APG III system only uses the broadly circumscribed Caprifoliceae.

The Dipsacales appear to be most closely related to the Paracryphiales.

title: Dipsacales


text:
Democrat

Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:

Politics

 * A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
 * A member of a Democratic Party:
 * Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY)
 * Democratic Party (Hong Kong) (DPHK)
 * Democratic Party (Italy) (PD)
 * Democratic Party (Japan) (DP)
 * Democratic Party (United States) (D)
 * Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
 * Democratic Party of Korea
 * Democratic Party (disambiguation), for a full list
 * A member of a Democrat Party (disambiguation)
 * A member of a Democracy Party (disambiguation)
 * Australian Democrats, a political party
 * Democrats (Brazil), a political party
 * Democrats (Chile), a political party
 * Democrats (Croatia), a political party
 * Democrats (Gothenburg political party), in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden
 * Democrats (Greece), a political party
 * Democrats (Greenland), a political party
 * Democrats (Slovakia), a political party
 * Sweden Democrats, a political party
 * The Democrats (Maldives), a political party
 * The Democrats (Israel), a political party
 * Supporters of political parties and democracy movements in Hong Kong and Macau:
 * Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)
 * Localist camp (Hong Kong)
 * Pro-democracy camp (Macau)

Places

 * Democrat, California
 * Democrat, Kentucky
 * Democrat Gulch, a valley in Oregon
 * Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
 * Democratic Republic of the Congo
 * German Democratic Republic
 * People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
 * Democratic People's Republic of Korea
 * Lao People's Democratic Republic
 * Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
 * Somali Democratic Republic
 * People's Democratic Republic of Yemen

Other uses

 * Democrats (film), a 2014 documentary about politics in Zimbabwe

title: Democrat


text:
December

December is the twelfth and final month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days.

December’s name derives from the Latin word decem (meaning ten) because it was originally the tenth month of the year in the calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, which began in March. The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. Later, the months of January and February were created out of the monthless period and added to the beginning of the calendar, but December retained its name.

In Ancient Rome, as one of the four Agonalia, this day in honour of Sol Indiges was held on December 11, as was Septimontium. Dies natalis (birthday) was held at the temple of Tellus on December 13, Consualia was held on December 15, Saturnalia was held December 17–23, Opiconsivia was held on December 19, Divalia was held on December 21, Larentalia was held on December 23, and the dies natalis of Sol Invictus was held on December 25. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.

The Anglo-Saxons referred to December–January as Ġēolamonaþ (modern English: "Yule month"). The French Republican Calendar contained December within the months of Frimaire and Nivôse.

Astronomy
December contains the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the fewest daylight hours, and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the day with the most daylight hours (excluding polar regions in both cases). December in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the astronomical winter is traditionally 21 December or the date of the solstice.

Meteor showers occurring in December are the Andromedids (September 25 – December 6, peaking around November 9), the Canis-Minorids (December 4 – December 15, peaking around December 10–11), the Coma Berenicids (December 12 to December 23, peaking around December 16), the Delta Cancrids (December 14 to February 14, the main shower from January 1 to January 24, peaking on January 17), the Geminids (December 13–14), the Monocerotids (December 7 to December 20, peaking on December 9. This shower can also start in November), the Phoenicids (November 29 to December 9, with a peak occurring around 5/6 December), the Quadrantids (typically a January shower but can also start in December), the Sigma Hydrids (December 4–15), and the Ursids (December 17-to December 25/26, peaking around December 22).

Astrology
The zodiac signs for the month of December are Sagittarius (until December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 onward).

Symbols
December's birth flower is the narcissus. Its birthstones are turquoise, zircon and tanzanite.

Observances
This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.

Non-Gregorian
(All Baháʼí, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.)
 * List of observances set by the Baháʼí calendar
 * List of observances set by the Chinese calendar
 * List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar
 * List of observances set by the Islamic calendar
 * List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar

Month-long

 * In Catholic tradition, December typically marks the beginning of the Season of Advent. It is also devoted to the Immaculate Conception.
 * National Egg Nog Month (United States)
 * National Impaired Driving Prevention Month (United States)
 * National Fruit Cake Month (United States)
 * National Pear Month (United States)

Movable
Tuesday immediately following fourth Thursday of November First Friday First Sunday Second Monday December 15, unless the date falls on a Sunday, then December 16 Winter Solstice December 22, unless that date is a Sunday, in which case the 23rd December 26, unless that day is a Sunday, in which case the 27th
 * See also Movable Western Christian observances
 * See also Movable Eastern Christian observances
 * Giving Tuesday (United States) (can fall in December)
 * Farmer's Day (Ghana)
 * Gospel Day (Marshall Islands)
 * Good Neighborliness Day (Turkmenistan)
 * Sindhi Cultural Day (Sindhi diaspora)
 * Green Monday
 * National Tree Planting Day (Malawi)
 * Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom of the Netherlands)
 * Blue Christmas (holiday)
 * Brumalia (Ancient Rome)
 * Dongzhi Festival (Asia)
 * Global Orgasm
 * Korochun (Slavic)
 * Midsummer in the Southern Hemisphere. (Contemporary Paganism)
 * Sanghamitta Day (Theravada Buddhism)
 * Shalako (Zuni)
 * Yaldā (Iran)
 * Yule in the Northern Hemisphere (Contemporary Paganism)
 * Ziemassvētki (Latvia)
 * Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
 * Boxing Day (Commonwealth of Nations)
 * Day of Good Will (South Africa and Namibia)
 * Family Day (Vanuatu)
 * Thanksgiving (Solomon Islands)
 * Start of Boxing Week

Fixed

 * November 25 – December 10: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence
 * December 1
 * Battle of the Sinop Day (Russia)
 * Damrong Rajanubhab Day (Thailand)
 * Day of Restoration of Independence (Portugal)
 * Eat A Red Apple Day (United States)
 * Feast for Death of Aleister Crowley (Thelema)
 * First President Day (Kazakhstan)
 * Freedom and Democracy Day (Chad)
 * Great Union Day (Romania)
 * Military Abolition Day (Costa Rica)
 * National Day (Myanmar)
 * Republic Day (Central African Republic)
 * Restoration of Independence Day (Portugal)
 * Rosa Parks Day (Ohio and Oregon, United States)
 * Self-governance Day (Iceland)
 * Teachers' Day (Panama)
 * World AIDS Day
 * Day Without Art
 * December 2
 * Armed Forces Day (Cuba)
 * International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
 * National Day (Laos)
 * National Day (United Arab Emirates)
 * National Fritters Day (United States)
 * December 3
 * Doctors' Day (Cuba)
 * United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities
 * December 4
 * National Cookie Day (United States)
 * Navy Day (India)
 * Saint Barbara's Day-related observances:
 * Barbórka (Poland)
 * Eid il-Burbara (Russia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey)
 * Thai Environment Day (Thailand)
 * Tupou I Day (Tonga)
 * December 5
 * Children's Day (Suriname)
 * Day of the Ninja (unofficial)
 * Day of Military Honour – Battle of Moscow (Russia)
 * Discovery Day (Haiti and Dominican Republic)
 * International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
 * Klozum (Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands)
 * Saint Nicholas Eve (Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Poland and the UK)
 * Krampusnacht (Austria)
 * King's Birthday (Thailand)
 * Repeal Day (United States)
 * World Soil Day
 * December 6
 * Anniversary of the Founding of Quito (Ecuador)
 * Armed Forces Day (Ukraine)
 * Constitution Day (Spain)
 * Day of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan
 * Independence Day of Finland
 * National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)
 * St Nicholas Day (Western Christianity)
 * December 7
 * Armed Forces Flag Day (India)
 * Eve of the Immaculate Conception (Western Christianity) and related observances:
 * Day of the Little Candles, begins after sunset (Colombia)
 * Quema del Diablo, begins after sunset. (Guatemala)
 * International Civil Aviation Day
 * National Heroes Day (East Timor)
 * National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (United States)
 * Spitak Remembrance Day (Armenia)
 * December 8
 * Battle Day (Falkland Islands)
 * Bodhi Day (Japan)
 * CARICOM–Cuba Day (Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba)
 * Constitution Day (Romania)
 * Constitution Day (Uzbekistan)
 * Day of Finnish Music (Finland)
 * Feast of the Immaculate Conception (public holiday in several countries, a holy day of obligation in others), and its related observances:
 * Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Anglican Communion), lesser commemoration
 * Christmas on Campus (University of Dayton)
 * Mother's Day (Panama)
 * Festa da Conceição da Praia, celebrating Yemanjá, Queen of the Ocean (Salvador, Bahia)
 * Festival of Lights (Lyon)
 * Pansexual/Panromantic Pride Day
 * Saint Clement of Ohrid Day (North Macedonia)
 * National Brownie Day (United States)
 * National Youth Day (Albania)
 * December 9
 * Anna's Day (Sweden and Finland)
 * Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by St. Anne (Eastern Orthodox)
 * Independence Day (Tanzania)
 * International Anti-Corruption Day
 * National Heroes Day (Antigua and Barbuda)
 * National Pastry Day (United States)
 * Navy Day (Sri Lanka)
 * Remembrance for Egill Skallagrímsson (The Troth)
 * Yuri's Day in the Autumn (Russian Orthodox Church)
 * December 10
 * Alfred Nobel Day (Sweden)
 * Constitution Day (Thailand)
 * Human Rights Day (International)
 * December 11
 * Human Rights and Peace Day (Kiribati)
 * Indiana Day (Indiana, United States)
 * National Have a Bagel Day (United States)
 * National Noodle Ring Day (United States)
 * National Tango Day (Argentina)
 * Pampanga Day (Pampanga province, Philippines)
 * Republic Day (Burkina Faso)
 * December 12
 * Constitution Day (Russia)
 * Croatian Air Force Day (Croatia)
 * Day of Neutrality (Turkmenistan)
 * Feast of the Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico)
 * Feast of Masá'il Baháʼí calendar (only if Baháʼí Naw-Rúz falls on March 21, which it does for 2015)
 * Kanji Day (Japan)
 * Jamhuri Day (Kenya)
 * December 13
 * Acadian Remembrance Day (Acadians)
 * National Day (Saint Lucia)
 * Republic Day (Malta)
 * Sailor's Day (Brazil)
 * Saint Lucy's Day (mainly Scandinavia, some regions of Italy)
 * December 14
 * Alabama Day (Alabama)
 * Forty-seven Ronin Remembrance Day (Sengaku-ji, Tokyo)
 * Martyred Intellectuals Day (Bangladesh)
 * Monkey Day (International)
 * December 15
 * Bill of Rights Day (United States)
 * 2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina)
 * Homecoming Day (Alderney)
 * International Tea Day
 * National Cupcake Day (United States)
 * Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty (Russia)
 * Zamenhof Day (International Esperanto Community)
 * December 16
 * National Day (Kingdom of Bahrain)
 * Victory day of Bangladesh
 * Day of Reconciliation in South Africa
 * December 17
 * Accession Day (Bahrain)
 * International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
 * National Day (Bhutan)
 * National Maple Syrup Day (United States)
 * Pan American Aviation Day (United States)
 * Wright Brothers Day (United States)
 * December 18
 * International Migrants Day (United Nations)
 * National Muffin Day (Brazil)
 * December 19
 * Goa Liberation Day (Goa, India)
 * National Heroes and Heroines Day (Anguilla)
 * December 20
 * Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana)
 * Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar)
 * International Human Solidarity Day (International)
 * Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau)
 * National Sangria Day (United States)
 * December 21
 * Armed Forces Day (Philippines)
 * First day of winter (some cultures)
 * Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States)
 * National Hamburger Day (United States)
 * São Tomé Day (São Tomé and Príncipe)
 * The first day of Pancha Ganapati, celebrated until December 25 (Saiva Siddhanta Church)
 * December 22
 * Armed Forces Day (Vietnam)
 * Mother's Day (Indonesia)
 * National Date Nut Bread Day (United States)
 * National Mathematics Day (India)
 * Teachers' Day (Cuba)
 * Unity Day (Zimbabwe)
 * December 23
 * The Emperor's Birthday, a national holiday in Japan
 * Festivus
 * HumanLight (Humanism)
 * December 24
 * Christmas Eve
 * Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lad arrives to towns. (Iceland)
 * Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italy)
 * Juleaften (Denmark)/Julaften (Norway)/Julafton (Sweden)
 * Nittel Nacht (certain Orthodox Jewish denominations)
 * Nochebuena (Spain and Spanish-speaking countries)
 * The Declaration of Christmas Peace (Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City)
 * Quviasukvik (Eskimo of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, NunatuKavut, Alaska, Greenland and Chukotka), a new year celebration held until January 7th.
 * Day of Military Honour – Siege of Ismail (Russia)
 * Independence Day (Libya)
 * Mōdraniht (Anglo-Saxon paganism)
 * National Eggnog Day (United States)
 * December 25
 * Children's Day (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo)
 * Christmas (Christianity)
 * Constitution Day (Taiwan)
 * Good Governance Day (India)
 * Newtonmas (Atheist community)
 * Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan)
 * Takanakuy (Chumbivilcas Province, Peru)
 * National Pumpkin Pie Day (United States)
 * December 26
 * Independence Day in Slovenia – Independence and Unity Day
 * Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 1) (African-American community, United States)
 * Saint Stephen's Day
 * Wren Day (Ireland and the Isle of Man)
 * December 27
 * Independence and Unity Day (Slovenia)
 * Mauro Hamza Day (Houston, Texas)
 * Mummer's Day (Padstow, Cornwall)
 * St. Stephen's Day (public holiday in Alsace, Austria, Catalonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland)
 * Father's Day (Bulgaria)
 * The first day of Junkanoo street parade, the second day is on the New Year's Day (The Bahamas)
 * National Fruitcake Day (United States)
 * Zartosht No-Diso (Zoroastrianism)
 * December 28
 * Proclamation Day in South Australia
 * December 29
 * December 30
 * Day of the Declaration of Slovakia as an Independent Ecclesiastic Province (Slovakia)
 * National Bicarbonate of Soda Day (United States)
 * Rizal Day (Philippines)
 * December 31
 * International Solidarity Day (Azerbaijan)
 * National Champagne Day (United States)
 * New Year's Eve
 * Novy God Eve
 * Bisperás ng Bagong Taón (Philippines)
 * Ōmisoka (Japan)
 * Start of Hogmanay (Scotland) December 31 – January 1, in some cases until January 2.

title: December


text:
December 7

Pre-1600

 * 43 BC – Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius.
 * 574 – Byzantine Emperor Justin II, suffering recurring seizures of insanity, adopts his general Tiberius and proclaims him as Caesar.
 * 927 – The Sajid emir of Adharbayjan, Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj is defeated and captured by the Qarmatians near Kufa.

1601–1900

 * 1703 – The Great Storm of 1703, the greatest windstorm ever recorded in the southern part of Great Britain, makes landfall. Winds gust up to 120 mph, and 9,000 people die.
 * 1724 – Tumult of Thorn: Religious unrest is followed by the execution of nine Protestant citizens and the mayor of Thorn (Toruń) by Polish authorities.
 * 1732 – The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden, London, England.
 * 1776 – Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, arranges to enter the American military as a major general.
 * 1787 – Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
 * 1837 – The Battle of Montgomery's Tavern, the only battle of the Upper Canada Rebellion, takes place in Toronto, where the rebels are quickly defeated.
 * 1842 – First concert of the New York Philharmonic, founded by Ureli Corelli Hill.

1901–present

 * 1904 – Comparative fuel trials begin between warships HMS Spiteful (1899) and HMS Peterel (1899): Spiteful was the first warship powered solely by fuel oil, and the trials led to the obsolescence of coal in ships of the Royal Navy.
 * 1917 – World War I: The United States declares war on Austria-Hungary.
 * 1922 – The Parliament of Northern Ireland votes to remain a part of the United Kingdom and not unify with Southern Ireland.
 * 1930 – W1XAV in Boston, Massachusetts telecasts video from the CBS radio orchestra program, The Fox Trappers. The telecast also includes the first television advertisement in the United States, for I.J. Fox Furriers, which also sponsored the radio show.
 * 1932 – German-born Swiss physicist Albert Einstein is granted an American visa.
 * 1936 – Australian cricketer Jack Fingleton becomes the first player to score centuries in four consecutive Test innings.
 * 1941 – World War II: Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Imperial Japanese Navy carries out a surprise attack on the United States Pacific Fleet and its defending Army and Marine air forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (For Japan's near-simultaneous attacks on Eastern Hemisphere targets, see December 8.)
 * 1942 – World War II: British commandos conduct Operation Frankton, a raid on shipping in Bordeaux harbour.
 * 1944 – An earthquake along the coast of Wakayama Prefecture in Japan causes a tsunami which kills 1,223 people.
 * 1946 – A fire at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia kills 119 people, the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history.
 * 1949 – Chinese Civil War: The Government of the Republic of China moves from Nanjing to Taipei, Taiwan.
 * 1962 – Prince Rainier III of Monaco revises the principality's constitution, devolving some of his power to advisory and legislative councils.
 * 1963 – Instant replay makes its debut during the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
 * 1965 – Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I simultaneously revoke mutual excommunications that had been in place since 1054.
 * 1971 – The Battle of Sylhet is fought between the Pakistani military and the Indian Army.
 * 1971  – Pakistan President Yahya Khan announces the formation of a coalition government with Nurul Amin as Prime Minister and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as Deputy Prime Minister.
 * 1972 – Apollo 17, the last Apollo Moon mission, is launched. The crew takes the photograph known as The Blue Marble as they leave the Earth.
 * 1982 – In Texas, Charles Brooks Jr., becomes the first person to be executed by lethal injection in the United States.
 * 1982  – The Senior Road Tower collapses in less than 17 seconds.  Five workers on the tower are killed and three workers on a building nearby are injured.
 * 1983 – An Iberia Airlines Boeing 727 collides with an Aviaco DC-9 in dense fog while the two airliners are taxiing down the runway at Madrid–Barajas Airport, killing 93 people.
 * 1987 – Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771, a British Aerospace 146-200A, crashes near Paso Robles, California, killing all 43 on board, after a disgruntled passenger shoots his ex-boss traveling on the flight, then shoots both pilots and steers the plane into the ground.
 * 1988 – The 6.8 Armenian earthquake shakes the northern part of the country with a maximum MSK intensity of X (Devastating), killing 25,000–50,000 and injuring 31,000–130,000.
 * 1993 – Long Island Rail Road shooting: Passenger Colin Ferguson murders six people and injures 19 others on the LIRR in Nassau County, New York.
 * 1995 – The Galileo spacecraft arrives at Jupiter, a little more than six years after it was launched by Space Shuttle Atlantis during Mission STS-34.
 * 1995  – Khabarovsk United Air Group Flight 3949 crashes into the Bo-Dzhausa Mountain, killing 98.
 * 1995  – An Air Saint Martin (now Air Caraïbes) Beechcraft 1900 crashes near the Haitian commune of Belle Anse, killing 20.
 * 2003 – The Conservative Party of Canada is officially registered, following the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
 * 2005 – Rigoberto Alpizar, a passenger on American Airlines Flight 924 who allegedly claimed to have a bomb, is shot and killed by a team of U.S. federal air marshals at Miami International Airport.
 * 2015 – The JAXA probe Akatsuki successfully enters orbit around Venus five years after the first attempt.
 * 2016 – Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661, a domestic passenger flight from Chitral to Islamabad, operated by an ATR-42-500 crashes near Havelian, killing all 47 on board.
 * 2017 – Aztec High School shooting: Former student William Atchison opens fire on former high school, killing 2.

Pre-1600

 * 521 – Columba, Irish missionary, monk, and saint (d. 597)
 * 903 – Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi, Persian astronomer and author (d. 986)
 * 967 – Abū-Sa'īd Abul-Khayr, Persian Sufi poet (d. 1049)
 * 1302 – Azzone Visconti, Italian nobleman (d. 1339)
 * 1532 – Louis I, German nobleman and politician (d. 1605)
 * 1545 – Henry Stuart, English-Scottish husband of Mary, Queen of Scots (d. 1567)
 * 1561 – Kikkawa Hiroie, Japanese daimyō (d. 1625)
 * 1595 – Injo of Joseon, Korean king (d. 1649)
 * 1598 – Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Italian sculptor and painter (d. 1680)

1601–1900

 * 1643 – Giovanni Battista Falda, Italian architect and engraver (d. 1678)
 * 1637 – Bernardo Pasquini, Italian organist and composer (d. 1710)
 * 1756 – John Littlejohn, American sheriff and Methodist preacher (d. 1836)
 * 1764 – Claude Victor-Perrin, French general and politician (d. 1841)
 * 1784 – Allan Cunningham, Scottish author and poet (d. 1842)
 * 1791 – Ferenc Novák, Hungarian-Slovene priest and poet (d. 1836)
 * 1792 – Abraham Jacob van der Aa, Dutch author and academic (d. 1857)
 * 1801 – Johann Nestroy, Austrian actor and playwright (d. 1862)
 * 1810 – Josef Hyrtl, Hungarian-Austrian anatomist and biologist (d. 1894)
 * 1810  – Theodor Schwann, German physiologist and biologist (d. 1882)
 * 1823 – Leopold Kronecker, Polish-German mathematician and academic (d. 1891)
 * 1838 – Thomas Bent, Australian businessman and politician, 22nd Premier of Victoria (d. 1909)
 * 1860 – Joseph Cook, English-born Australian politician, 6th Prime Minister of Australia (d. 1947)
 * 1861 – Henri Mathias Berthelot, French general during World War I (d. 1931)
 * 1862 – Paul Adam, French author (d. 1920)
 * 1863 – Felix Calonder, Swiss soldier and politician, 36th President of the Swiss Confederation (d. 1952)
 * 1863  – Pietro Mascagni, Italian composer and conductor (d. 1945)
 * 1863  – Richard Warren Sears, American businessman, co-founded Sears (d. 1914)
 * 1869 – Frank Laver, Australian cricketer (d. 1919)
 * 1873 – Willa Cather, American novelist, short story writer, and poet (d. 1947)
 * 1878 – Akiko Yosano, Japanese author, poet, pioneering feminist, pacifist, and social reformer (d. 1942)
 * 1879 – Rudolf Friml, Czech-American pianist, composer, and academic (d. 1972)
 * 1884 – John Carpenter, American sprinter (d. 1933)
 * 1885 – Mason Phelps, American golfer (d. 1945)
 * 1885  – Peter Sturholdt, American boxer and painter (d. 1919)
 * 1887 – Ernst Toch, Austrian-American composer and songwriter (d. 1964)
 * 1888 – Joyce Cary, Irish novelist (d. 1957)
 * 1888  – Hamilton Fish III, American captain and politician (d. 1991)
 * 1892 – Stuart Davis, American painter and academic (d. 1964)
 * 1893 – Fay Bainter, American actress (d. 1968)
 * 1893  – Hermann Balck, German general (d. 1982)
 * 1894 – Freddie Adkins, English author and illustrator (d. 1986)
 * 1900 – Kateryna Vasylivna Bilokur, Ukrainian folk artist (d. 1961)

1901–present

 * 1902 – Hilda Taba, Estonian architect, author, and educator (d. 1967)
 * 1903 – Danilo Blanuša, Croatian mathematician, physicist, and academic (d. 1987)
 * 1904 – Clarence Nash, American voice actor and singer (d. 1985)
 * 1905 – Gerard Kuiper, Dutch-American astronomer and academic (d. 1973)
 * 1906 – Erika Fuchs, German translator (d. 2005)
 * 1907 – Fred Rose, Polish-Canadian politician and spy (d. 1983)
 * 1909 – Nikola Vaptsarov, Bulgarian poet and author (d. 1942)
 * 1910 – Duncan McNaughton, Canadian high jumper and geologist (d. 1998)
 * 1910  – Louis Prima, American singer-songwriter, trumpet player, and actor (d. 1978)
 * 1912 – Daniel Jones, Welsh captain and composer (d. 1993)
 * 1913 – Kersti Merilaas, Estonian author and poet (d. 1986)
 * 1915 – Leigh Brackett, American author and screenwriter (d. 1978)
 * 1915  – Eli Wallach, American actor (d. 2014)
 * 1920 – Tatamkhulu Afrika, South African poet and author (d. 2002)
 * 1920  – Fiorenzo Magni, Italian cyclist (d. 2012)
 * 1920  – Walter Nowotny, Austrian-German soldier and pilot (d. 1944)
 * 1921 – Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Indian guru and scholar (d. 2016)
 * 1923 – Intizar Hussain, Indian-Pakistani author and scholar (d. 2016)
 * 1923  – Ted Knight, American actor and comedian (d. 1986)
 * 1924 – Bent Fabric, Danish pianist and composer (d. 2020)
 * 1924  – John Love, Zimbabwean race car driver (d. 2005)
 * 1924  – Mary Ellen Rudin, American mathematician (d. 2013)
 * 1924  – Mário Soares, Portuguese historian, lawyer, and politician, 17th President of Portugal (d. 2017)
 * 1925 – Hermano da Silva Ramos, French-Brazilian race car driver
 * 1925  – Max Zaslofsky, American basketball player and coach (d. 1985)
 * 1926 – William John McNaughton, American bishop (d. 2020)
 * 1927 – Jack S. Blanton, American businessman and philanthropist (d. 2013)
 * 1927  – Helen Watts, Welsh opera singer (d. 2009)
 * 1928 – Noam Chomsky, American linguist and philosopher
 * 1928  – Mickey Thompson, American race car driver (d. 1988)
 * 1930 – Christopher Nicole, Guyanese-English author (d. 2017)
 * 1930  – Hal Smith, American baseball player (d. 2020)
 * 1931 – Allan B. Calhamer, American game designer, created Diplomacy (d. 2013)
 * 1931  – Bobby Osborne, American bluegrass singer and musician (d. 2023)
 * 1932 – Ellen Burstyn, American actress
 * 1932  – Oktay Ekşi, Turkish journalist and politician
 * 1932  – Rosemary Rogers, American journalist and author (d. 2019)
 * 1932  – J. B. Sumarlin, Indonesian economist and politician, 17th Indonesian Minister of Finance (d. 2020)
 * 1932  – Bobby Whitton, Australian rugby league player (d. 2008)
 * 1933 – Krsto Papić, Croatian director and screenwriter (d. 2013)
 * 1935 – Armando Manzanero, Mexican musician, singer and composer (d. 2020)
 * 1937 – Stan Boardman, English comedian
 * 1937  – Thad Cochran, American lawyer and politician (d. 2019)
 * 1940 – Gerry Cheevers, Canadian ice hockey player and coach
 * 1941 – Melba Pattillo Beals, American journalist and activist
 * 1942 – Harry Chapin, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1981)
 * 1942  – Alex Johnson, American baseball player (d. 2015)
 * 1942  – Reginald F. Lewis, American businessman (d. 1993)
 * 1942  – Peter Tomarken, American game show host and producer (d. 2006)
 * 1943 – Susan Isaacs, American author and screenwriter
 * 1943  – Nick Katz, American mathematician and academic
 * 1943  – Bernard C. Parks, American police officer and politician
 * 1943  – John Bennett Ramsey, American businessman and pilot
 * 1944 – Daniel Chorzempa, American organist and composer (d. 2023)
 * 1944  – Miroslav Macek, Czech dentist and politician (d. 2024)
 * 1947 – Johnny Bench, American baseball player and sportscaster
 * 1947  – Anne Fine, English author
 * 1947  – James Keach, American actor, producer, and director
 * 1947  – Garry Unger, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster
 * 1948 – Gary Morris, American country singer-songwriter and actor
 * 1948  – Tony Thomas, American screenwriter and producer
 * 1949 – James Rivière, Italian sculptor and jeweler
 * 1949  – Tom Waits, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor
 * 1950 – Ron Hynes, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 2015)
 * 1952 – Susan Collins, American politician
 * 1952  – Eckhard Märzke, German footballer and manager
 * 1954 – Mary Fallin, American businesswoman and politician, 27th Governor of Oklahoma
 * 1955 – John Watkins, Australian educator and politician, 14th Deputy Premier of New South Wales
 * 1956 – Larry Bird, American basketball player and coach
 * 1956  – Chuy Bravo, Mexican-American comedian and actor (d. 2019)
 * 1956  – Anna Soubry, British politician
 * 1957 – Geoff Lawson, Australian cricketer, coach, and sportscaster
 * 1957  – Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Nigerian career-diplomat, President of the United Nations General Assembly (2019)
 * 1957  – Tom Winsor, English lawyer and civil servant
 * 1958 – Tim Butler, English bass player and songwriter
 * 1958  – Rick Rude, American wrestler and sportscaster (d. 1999)
 * 1959 – Saleem Yousuf, Pakistani cricketer
 * 1960 – Craig Scanlon, English guitarist and songwriter
 * 1962 – Alain Blondel, French decathlete
 * 1962  – Jeffrey Donaldson, Northern Irish politician
 * 1962  – Imad Mughniyah, Lebanese activist (d. 2008)
 * 1963 – Theo Snelders, Dutch footballer and coach
 * 1963  – Katsuya Terada, Japanese illustrator
 * 1963  – Barbara Weathers, American R&B/soul singer
 * 1964 – Hugo Blick, English filmmaker
 * 1964  – Patrick Fabian, American actor
 * 1964  – Peter Laviolette, American ice hockey player and coach
 * 1965 – Deborah Bassett, Australian rower
 * 1965  – Colin Hendry, Scottish footballer and manager
 * 1965  – Jeffrey Wright, American actor
 * 1966 – C. Thomas Howell, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter
 * 1966  – Shinichi Ito, Japanese motorcycle racer
 * 1966  – Kazue Itoh, Japanese actress
 * 1966  – Andres Kasekamp, Canadian-Estonian historian and academic
 * 1966  – Louise Post, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * 1967 – Mark Geyer, Australian rugby league player and sportscaster
 * 1967  – Tino Martinez, American baseball player, coach, and sportscaster
 * 1967  – Nina Turner, American politician
 * 1971 – Vladimir Akopian, Azerbaijani-Armenian chess player
 * 1972 – Hermann Maier, Austrian skier
 * 1972  – Tammy Lynn Sytch, American wrestler and manager
 * 1973 – İbrahim Kutluay, Turkish basketball player
 * 1973  – Hack Meyers, American wrestler and trainer (d. 2015)
 * 1973  – Terrell Owens, American football player
 * 1973  – Fabien Pelous, French rugby player and coach
 * 1973  – Damien Rice, Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer
 * 1974 – Nicole Appleton, Canadian singer and actress
 * 1974  – Manuel Martínez Gutiérrez, Spanish shot putter and actor
 * 1975 – Jamie Clapham, English footballer and coach
 * 1976 – Alan Faneca, American football player
 * 1976  – Ivan Franceschini, Italian footballer
 * 1976  – Georges Laraque, Canadian ice hockey player and politician
 * 1976  – Derek Ramsay, Filipino-British actor, model and television personality
 * 1976  – Sunny Sweeney, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * 1976  – Benoît Tréluyer, French race car driver
 * 1977 – Eric Chavez, American baseball player and sportscaster
 * 1977  – Luke Donald, English golfer
 * 1977  – Dominic Howard, English drummer and producer
 * 1978 – Shiri Appleby, American actress, director, and producer
 * 1978  – Suzannah Lipscomb, English historian, academic and television presenter
 * 1979 – Sara Bareilles, American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress
 * 1979  – Jennifer Carpenter, American actress
 * 1979  – Lampros Choutos, Greek-Italian footballer
 * 1979  – Ayako Fujitani, Japanese actress and screenwriter
 * 1980 – Dan Bilzerian, American poker player and internet celebrity
 * 1980  – John Terry, English footballer
 * 1982 – Lou Amundson, American basketball player
 * 1982  – Jack Huston, English actor
 * 1983 – Mike Mucitelli, American mixed martial artist
 * 1983  – Al Thornton, American basketball player
 * 1984 – Aaron Gray, American basketball player
 * 1984  – Robert Kubica, Polish race car driver
 * 1984  – Milan Michálek, Czech ice hockey player
 * 1984  – Luca Rigoni, Italian footballer
 * 1985 – Jon Moxley, American wrestler
 * 1986 – Billy Horschel, American golfer
 * 1986  – Nita Strauss, American guitarist
 * 1987 – Aaron Carter, American singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, and actor (d. 2022)
 * 1988 – Nathan Adrian, American swimmer
 * 1988  – Emily Browning, Australian actress and singer
 * 1988  – Angelina Gabueva, Russian tennis player
 * 1988  – Andrew Goudelock, American basketball player
 * 1989 – Kyle Hendricks, American baseball player
 * 1989  – Nicholas Hoult, English actor
 * 1989  – Philip Larsen, Danish ice hockey player
 * 1989  – Alessandro Marchi, Italian footballer
 * 1989  – Kevin Séraphin, French basketball player
 * 1990 – Cameron Bairstow, Australian basketball player
 * 1990  – David Goffin, Belgian tennis player
 * 1990  – Aleksandr Menkov, Russian long jumper
 * 1990  – Yasiel Puig, Cuban baseball player
 * 1990  – Urszula Radwańska, Polish tennis player
 * 1991 – Eugenio Pisani, Italian race car driver
 * 1992 – Sean Couturier, American-Canadian ice hockey player
 * 1993 – Rahama Sadau, Nigerian actress
 * 1994 – Pete Alonso, American baseball player
 * 1994  – Geno Chiarelli, American politician
 * 1994  – Yuzuru Hanyu, Japanese figure skater
 * 1994  – Hunter Henry, American football player
 * 1997 – Abi Harrison, Scottish footballer
 * 1997  – Tommy Nelson, American actor
 * 1998 – Tony Yike Yang, Canadian pianist
 * 1999 – Pavol Regenda, Slovak ice hockey player

Pre-1600

 * 43 BC – Cicero, Roman philosopher, lawyer, and politician (b. 106 BC)
 * 283 – Eutychian, pope of the Catholic Church
 * 881 – Anspert, archbishop of Milan
 * 983 – Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor (b. 955)
 * 1254 – Innocent IV, pope of the Catholic Church (b. 1195)
 * 1279 – Bolesław V, High Duke of Poland (b. 1226)
 * 1295 – Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester, English officer (b. 1243)
 * 1383 – Wenceslaus I, duke of Luxembourg (b. 1337)
 * 1498 – Alexander Hegius von Heek, German poet (b. 1433)
 * 1562 – Adrian Willaert, Dutch-Italian composer and educator (b. 1490)

1601–1900

 * 1649 – Charles Garnier, French missionary and saint (b. 1606)
 * 1672 – Richard Bellingham, English-American lawyer and politician, 8th Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (b. 1592)
 * 1680 – Peter Lely, Dutch-English painter (b. 1618)
 * 1683 – Algernon Sidney, English philosopher and politician, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (b. 1623)
 * 1723 – Jan Santini Aichel, Czech architect, designed the Pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk and Karlova Koruna Chateau (b. 1677)
 * 1725 – Florent Carton Dancourt, French actor and playwright (b. 1661)
 * 1772 – Martín Sarmiento, Spanish monk, scholar, and author (b. 1695)
 * 1775 – Charles Saunders, English admiral and politician (b. 1715)
 * 1793 – Joseph Bara, French soldier and drummer (b. 1779)
 * 1803 – Küçük Hüseyin Pasha, Turkish admiral and politician (b. 1757)
 * 1815 – Michel Ney, German-French general (b. 1769)
 * 1817 – William Bligh, English admiral and politician, 4th Governor of New South Wales (b. 1745)
 * 1837 – Robert Nicoll, Scottish poet (b.1814)
 * 1842 – Thomas Hamilton, Scottish philosopher and author (b. 1789)
 * 1874 – Constantin von Tischendorf, German theologian, scholar, and academic (b. 1815)
 * 1879 – Jón Sigurðsson, Icelandic scholar and politician, 1st Speaker of the Parliament of Iceland (b. 1811)
 * 1891 – Arthur Blyth, English-Australian politician, 9th Premier of South Australia (b. 1823)
 * 1894 – Ferdinand de Lesseps, French businessman and diplomat, co-developed the Suez Canal (b. 1805)
 * 1899 – Juan Luna, Filipino painter and sculptor (b. 1857)

1901–present

 * 1902 – Thomas Nast, German-American cartoonist (b. 1840)
 * 1906 – Élie Ducommun, Swiss journalist and educator, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1833)
 * 1913 – Luigi Oreglia di Santo Stefano, Italian cardinal (b. 1828)
 * 1917 – Ludwig Minkus, Austrian violinist and composer (b. 1826)
 * 1918 – Frank Wilson, English-Australian politician, 9th Premier of Western Australia (b. 1859)
 * 1941 – Attack on Pearl Harbor:
 * Mervyn S. Bennion, American captain (b. 1887)
 * Frederick Curtice Davis, American sailor (b. 1915)
 * Julius Ellsberry, American sailor (b. 1921)
 * John C. England, American sailor (b. 1920)
 * Edwin J. Hill, American sailor (b. 1894)
 * Ralph Hollis, American sailor (b. 1906)
 * Herbert C. Jones, American sailor (b. 1918)
 * Isaac C. Kidd, American admiral (b. 1884)
 * Robert Lawrence Leopold, American sailor (b. 1916)
 * Herbert Hugo Menges, American sailor (b. 1917)
 * Thomas James Reeves, American sailor (b. 1895)
 * Aloysius Schmitt, American priest and sailor (b. 1909)
 * Robert R. Scott, American sailor (b. 1915)
 * Peter Tomich, American sailor (b. 1893)
 * Robert Uhlmann, American sailor (b. 1919)
 * Franklin Van Valkenburgh, American captain (b. 1888)
 * Eldon P. Wyman, American sailor (b. 1917)
 * 1947 – Tristan Bernard, French author and playwright (b. 1866)
 * 1947  – Nicholas Murray Butler, American philosopher and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1862)
 * 1949 – Rex Beach, American author, playwright, and water polo player (b. 1877)
 * 1956 – Huntley Gordon, Canadian-American actor (b. 1887)
 * 1956  – Reşat Nuri Güntekin, Turkish author and playwright (b. 1889)
 * 1960 – Ioannis Demestichas, Greek admiral and politician (b. 1882)
 * 1962 – Kirsten Flagstad, Norwegian opera singer (b. 1895)
 * 1969 – Lefty O'Doul, American baseball player and manager (b. 1897)
 * 1969  – Eric Portman, English actor (b. 1903)
 * 1970 – Rube Goldberg, American cartoonist, sculptor, and author (b. 1883)
 * 1975 – Thornton Wilder, American novelist and playwright (b. 1897)
 * 1975  – Hardie Albright, American actor (b. 1903)
 * 1976 – Paul Bragg, American nutritionist (b. 1895)
 * 1977 – Paul Gibb, English cricketer and umpire (b. 1913)
 * 1977  – Peter Carl Goldmark, Hungarian-American engineer (b. 1906)
 * 1977  – Georges Grignard, French race car driver (b. 1905)
 * 1978 – Alexander Wetmore, American ornithologist and paleontologist (b. 1886)
 * 1979 – Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, English-American astronomer and astrophysicist (b. 1900)
 * 1980 – Darby Crash, American punk rock vocalist and songwriter (b. 1958)
 * 1984 – Jack Mercer, American voice actor (b. 1910)
 * 1984  – LeeRoy Yarbrough, American race car driver (b. 1938)
 * 1985 – J. R. Eyerman, American photographer and journalist (b. 1906)
 * 1985  – Robert Graves, English poet, novelist, critic (b. 1895)
 * 1985  – Potter Stewart, American soldier and jurist (b. 1915)
 * 1989 – Haystacks Calhoun, American wrestler and actor (b. 1934)
 * 1989  – Hans Hartung, French-German painter (b. 1904)
 * 1990 – Joan Bennett, American actress (b. 1910)
 * 1990  – Jean Paul Lemieux, Canadian painter and educator (b. 1904)
 * 1992 – Richard J. Hughes, American politician, 45th Governor of New Jersey, and Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court (b. 1909)
 * 1993 – Abidin Dino, Turkish-French painter and illustrator (b. 1913)
 * 1993  – Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Ivoirian physician and politician, 1st President of Ivory Coast (b. 1905)
 * 1995 – Kathleen Harrison, English actress (b. 1892)
 * 1997 – Billy Bremner, Scottish footballer and manager (b. 1942)
 * 1998 – John Addison, English-American composer and conductor (b. 1920)
 * 1998  – Martin Rodbell, American biochemist and endocrinologist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1925)
 * 2003 – Carl F. H. Henry American journalist and theologian (b. 1913)
 * 2003  – Azie Taylor Morton, American educator and politician, 36th Treasurer of the United States (b. 1933)
 * 2004 – Frederick Fennell, American conductor and educator (b. 1914)
 * 2004  – Jerry Scoggins, American singer and guitarist (b. 1913)
 * 2004  – Jay Van Andel, American businessman and philanthropist, co-founded Amway (b. 1924)
 * 2005 – Bud Carson, American football player and coach (b. 1931)
 * 2006 – Jeane Kirkpatrick, American academic and diplomat, 16th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (b. 1926)
 * 2008 – Herbert Hutner, American banker and lawyer (b. 1908)
 * 2010 – Elizabeth Edwards, American lawyer and author (b. 1949)
 * 2010  – Kari Tapio, Finnish singer (b. 1945)
 * 2011 – Harry Morgan, American actor (b. 1915)
 * 2012 – Roelof Kruisinga, Dutch physician and politician, Dutch Minister of Defence (b. 1922)
 * 2012  – Ralph Parr, American colonel and pilot (b. 1924)
 * 2012  – Marty Reisman, American table tennis player and author (b. 1930)
 * 2012  – Saul Steinberg, American businessman and financier (b. 1939)
 * 2013 – Édouard Molinaro, French actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1928)
 * 2013  – Chick Willis, American singer and guitarist (b. 1934)
 * 2014 – Mark Lewis, American author and educator (b. 1954)
 * 2015  – Gerhard Lenski, American sociologist and academic (b. 1924)
 * 2015  – Hyron Spinrad, American astronomer and academic (b. 1934)
 * 2015  – Peter Westbury, English race car driver (b. 1938)
 * 2016 – Junaid Jamshed, Pakistani recording artist, television personality, fashion designer, occasional actor, singer-songwriter and preacher. (b. 1964)
 * 2015  – Shirley Stelfox, English actress (b. 1941)
 * 2016  – Greg Lake, English musician (b. 1947)
 * 2017 – Steve Reevis, Native American actor (b. 1962)
 * 2019 – Ron Saunders, English football player and manager (b. 1932)
 * 2020 – Dick Allen, American baseball player and tenor (b. 1942)
 * 2020  – Chuck Yeager, American aviator (b. 1923)
 * 2023 – Benjamin Zephaniah, British writer and dub poet (b.1958)
 * 2023  – Refaat Alareer, Palestinian professor and writer (b.1979)
 * 2023  – Emiko Miyamoto, Japanese volleyball player (b.1937)

Holidays and observances

 * Armed Forces Flag Day (India)
 * Christian feast day:
 * Aemilianus (Greek Church)
 * Ambrose
 * Maria Giuseppa Rossello
 * Sabinus of Spoleto
 * December 7 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
 * Eve of the Immaculate Conception-related observances:
 * Day of the Little Candles, begins after sunset (Colombia)
 * International Civil Aviation Day
 * National Heroes Day (East Timor)
 * National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (United States)
 * Spitak Remembrance Day (Armenia)

title: December 7