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Evergreen date guide

What is celebrated on December 21?

See the observances and verified observance-history milestones attached to December 21. Each observance keeps its own source and date details.

Verified history

On this date in observance history

Today in history →

Selected observance milestones connected to this date, based on reviewed sources.

2024
First observance

World Meditation Day

The official UN concept note issued by the six core-group missions describes the 21 December 2024 event as the first World Meditation Day.

2023
First observance

World Basketball Day

United Nations and FIBA materials identify the 2023 celebration as the first or inaugural World Basketball Day.

2018
First observance

National Coquito Day

The launch describes the new annual observance and says the inaugural contest winner would be announced on National Coquito Day, December 21, 2018.

2016
Institutional decision

Sustainable Gastronomy Day

The United Nations Digital Library records adoption of A/RES/71/246 on 21 December 2016.

2012
Institutional decision

International Day of Forests

Exact action/adoption date of the establishing instrument in the reviewed institutional/legal source.

About this date

What this date contains

6 observances

Each observance is shown once in this view, with its own source and scope details available on the guide page.

0 repeat predictably

0 use a fixed annual date and 0 follow a reusable calendar rule.

0 are edition-specific

These dates are shown only for the year or edition that has been confirmed.

1 have a country-specific scope

Country-specific observances are not presented as worldwide events.

6 have in-depth guides

These pages include reviewed meaning, history, activities, facts and FAQs.

Reviewed depth

Other in-depth guides on December 21

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Chester Greenwood Day

21 December annually in Maine · Maine statutory commemorative day honoring inventor Chester Greenwood; “Earmuff” in the canonical page title is descriptive rather than the statutory title

Maine law designates 21 December each year as Chester Greenwood Day, directs the governor to issue an annual proclamation, and traces the section to Public Law 1977, chapter 262.

Source-backedEdition SpecificIn-depth guide

December solstice (Northern Hemisphere winter solstice)

21 December 2026 at 20:50 UT · Global astronomical December solstice / Northern Hemisphere winter-solstice naming; target-year instant is edition-specific

The U.S. Naval Observatory calculates the December 2026 solstice for December 21 at 20:50 Universal Time. USNO explains that solstices mark the beginning of summer and winter and that seaso…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Coquito Day

21 December · Puerto Rican cultural/culinary context / Don Q-created informal seasonal observance

Don Q Rum announced National Coquito Day as an annual December 21 observance and described the 2018 formalization of the day.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Maine Day

21 December · United States / National Day Calendar National State Days series — Maine

National Day Calendar lists its private National Maine Day on December 21 and describes the National State Days series as beginning in 2017. Maine separately designates March 15 as Statehoo…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Basketball Day

21 December · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/77/324

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Meditation Day

21 December · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/79/137

Explore the mix

Topics represented on December 21

All topics →
Arts, Entertainment & Lifestyle 2Celebrations & Social 1Animals, Nature & Environment 1Food, Drink & Hospitality 1Civic, Remembrance & History 1
6 observances

All observances on this date

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

Chester Greenwood Day

21 December annually in Maine · Maine statutory commemorative day honoring inventor Chester Greenwood; “Earmuff” in the canonical page title is descriptive rather than the statutory title

Maine law designates 21 December each year as Chester Greenwood Day, directs the governor to issue an annual proclamation, and traces the section to Public Law 1977, chapter 262.

Source-backedEdition SpecificIn-depth guide

December solstice (Northern Hemisphere winter solstice)

21 December 2026 at 20:50 UT · Global astronomical December solstice / Northern Hemisphere winter-solstice naming; target-year instant is edition-specific

The U.S. Naval Observatory calculates the December 2026 solstice for December 21 at 20:50 Universal Time. USNO explains that solstices mark the beginning of summer and winter and that seaso…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Coquito Day

21 December · Puerto Rican cultural/culinary context / Don Q-created informal seasonal observance

Don Q Rum announced National Coquito Day as an annual December 21 observance and described the 2018 formalization of the day.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

National Maine Day

21 December · United States / National Day Calendar National State Days series — Maine

National Day Calendar lists its private National Maine Day on December 21 and describes the National State Days series as beginning in 2017. Maine separately designates March 15 as Statehoo…

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Basketball Day

21 December · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/77/324

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

World Meditation Day

21 December · United Nations / international observance

A/RES/79/137

How dates are selected

This page combines fixed annual dates, reusable calendar rules and year-specific dates confirmed for 2026. Variable or historical dates are included only when they are clearly supported.

Read the methodology →