Cookie Exchange Day
National Cookie Exchange Day is officially celebrated on December 22 each year. It’s a festive day to bring people together through the joy of baking and sharing cookies, right before the heart of the holiday season. The event not only spreads cheer but also helps participants discover new recipes and build connections in a warm, welcoming way.
Significant Historical Events on December 22
1807: The U.S. Congress passes the Embargo Act, prohibiting American ships from trading in foreign ports, a response to British and French interference with U.S. shipping during the Napoleonic Wars.
1882: Thomas Edison creates the first string of Christmas lights, transforming holiday decorations forever.
1894: The Dreyfus Affair begins in France, as Captain Alfred Dreyfus is falsely convicted of treason, sparking a major political scandal and debate over anti-Semitism.
1944: During World War II, General Anthony McAuliffe, surrounded at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, famously replies “Nuts!” to a German demand for surrender.
1984: Bernhard Goetz, dubbed the “Subway Vigilante,” shoots four men on a New York City subway train, claiming self-defense, a case that sparks national debate on crime and vigilantism.
1989: After a violent revolution, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown, marking the end of 42 years of communist rule in Romania.
Famous Birthdays on December 22
244 CE: Diocletian, Roman emperor who stabilized the empire and initiated major administrative reforms.
1858: Giacomo Puccini, Italian composer known for operas like La Bohème and Madama Butterfly.
1883: Edgard Varèse, French composer, a pioneer of electronic music.
1962: Ralph Fiennes, British actor known for roles in Schindler’s List, The English Patient, and the Harry Potter series.
1989: Jordin Sparks, American singer and actress, winner of American Idol (Season 6).
Notable Deaths on December 22
1666: Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, martyred for defending religious freedom.
1899: Dwight L. Moody, American evangelist and publisher, founder of the Moody Bible Institute.
1940: Nathanael West, American author of The Day of the Locust and Miss Lonelyhearts.
1989: Samuel Beckett, Irish playwright, poet, and Nobel Prize laureate, best known for Waiting for Godot.
2014: Joe Cocker, British rock and blues singer, known for his gritty voice and hits like “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
