Today is December 1st: Discover the significance of this day and the historical events that took place on it.
December 1 marks the anniversary of the All-Ukrainian referendum of 1991 and Prosecutor's Day. Today is also World AIDS Day. On this day in 1835, the first collection of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen was published. In 1887, Arthur Conan Doyle's first story about Sherlock Holmes, "A Study in Scarlet," was released. In 1903, one of the earliest American westerns, "The Great Train Robbery," premiered. In 1918, the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was proclaimed. In 1934, the assassination of Kirov occurred, leading to the issuance of a decree in the USSR that initiated the Great Terror. In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed. In 2013, a million-strong protest took place in Kyiv, which began the Revolution of Dignity.
Holidays and Observances on December 1
December 1 is the anniversary of the All-Ukrainian referendum of 1991 and Prosecutor's Day.
Globally, it is World AIDS Day, Neurologist Day, and Day of Prisoners for Peace.
Today also marks: Antarctica Day, Day Without Art, and Day of Christmas Lights.
December 1 in History
On December 1, 1835, the first collection of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen was published. Learn more.
On December 1, 1887, Arthur Conan Doyle's first story featuring the private detective Sherlock Holmes was published in the Christmas annual "Beeton." This was "A Study in Scarlet." Learn more.
On December 1, 1903, one of the most successful silent films of the early century, "The Great Train Robbery," directed by Edwin Porter, was released.
It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the first American western. However, that's not entirely accurate. Although it does contain elements that would become staples of the genre. In "The Great Train Robbery," the character who would later become iconic for the genre, Butch Cassidy (inspired by the real-life leader of the elusive "Wild Bunch" of the late 19th century, Robert Parker), made his debut. The film's script is based on Scott Marble's 1896 novella, as well as the true story of a robbery carried out by Butch Cassidy's gang in 1900 (during which the bandits detached the passenger cars of a train, blew up a safe in one of them, and made off with $5,000). This film also marked the debut of actor Broncho Billy Anderson, who would become a major star in early westerns. In "The Great Train Robbery," he played multiple roles — a bandit, a nervous passenger, a dancing dandy, and a fireman. He also served as the assistant director.
“Partly due to its popular and accessible theme, as well as its dynamic action and violence, ‘The Great Train Robbery’ achieved unprecedented commercial success. Although the film did not significantly influence the western genre, it was widely distributed and copied, including a parody by Porter himself,” writes the English-language Wikipedia about the film. “In the twentieth century, inaccurate legends about ‘The Great Train Robbery’ emerged, claiming it was the first western or even the first film with a plot. Film scholars have repeatedly debunked these claims, demonstrating that ‘The Great Train Robbery’ was a stylistic dead end for its creator and the genre; its commercial success and mythical status in film history remain undisputed. The film, particularly the close-up of Barnes, became iconic in American culture, appearing in numerous film and television references. In 1990, the Library of Congress selected ‘The Great Train Robbery’ for preservation in the National Film Registry as ‘culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.’
On December 1, 1918, the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was proclaimed. The country was formed by uniting parts of the territories that were part of Austria-Hungary and Serbia after World War I. Learn more.
On December 1, 1918, Transylvania was annexed to the Kingdom of Romania due to the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Learn more.
On December 1, 1934, the assassination of Sergey Kirov, the first secretary of the Leningrad City Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), occurred. This event later initiated the Great Terror. Learn more.
On December 1, 1959, in Washington, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty. Learn more.
On December 1, 1990, British and French builders met under the English Channel while constructing a subterranean tunnel between the two countries.
On December 1, 1991, a nationwide referendum took place in Ukraine. Learn more.
On December 1, 2013, a mass protest occurred in Kyiv, gathering between 500,000 and 1 million people. Learn more.
Church Holiday on December 1
On December 1, the memory of the prophet Nahum is honored. He is one of the 12 minor prophets. Saint Prophet Nahum was from the village of Elkosh (Galilee) and lived in the 7th century BC. The Old Testament book of the prophet Nahum contains a prophecy about the destruction of the Assyrian city of Nineveh, which was destroyed for its wickedness, the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel, and the blasphemy of the Assyrian king Sennacherib against Jehovah. The circumstances of the prophet's life are unknown.
Folk Omens
The weather on December 1 will determine the entire winter.
If the wind is strong, winter will be cold.
If snow falls and immediately melts, it will be warm in the first half of December.
What Not to Do on December 1
Do not be lazy.
Do not complain about fate.
Avoid signing important documents.