December 20th is known as Games Day and Sangria Day.
Welcome to the 354th day of the year! We’re rapidly approaching the end of the year with only 11 days reamining in 2025.
This day was certainly an interesting day in years gone by and you’re about to discover the good, the bad and the ugly events that all happened on this day.
Did you know that on this day in 1996, the classic horror film “Scream” was released? It was credited with revitalizing the horror genre, which, at that point, was considered almost dead.
Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about December 20th in history!
Events
What memorable events happened on December 20 in history? Keep reading to find out!
2007
Pablo Picasso’s “Portrait of Suzanne Bloch” was stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art, along with O Lavrador de Café by Candido Portinari.
1991
A Palestinian couple was convicted of first-degree murder for the honor killing on their daughter.
In St. Louis, Missouri, Zein Isa and his wife Maria performed an honor killing on their daughter, with Maria holding her while Zein stabbed her. The FBI had already been monitoring Zein due to terrorist suspicion, and her death was recorded on audiotape from a bug.
1968
The Zodiac Killer claimed two more victims.
Although Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday were the first confirmed Zodiac victims, it’s impossible to say if they were his first kills. Betty and David were high school students on their first date in Vallejo, California, when the Zodiac Killer murdered them.
1860
South Carolina seceded from the United States of America.
Voters in South Carolina were almost all on the wrong side of history when they rejected the election of Abraham Lincoln and left the US in a fuss. They became one of the founding members of the Confederate States of America before ultimately being readmitted to the US less than eight years later.
Famous Births
If today’s your birthday, you share this special day with Jonah Hill! Here are other famous people born on this day.
1990
JoJo
American
Singer
Age:
34 years old
Born In:
Vermont, USA
1984
Bob Morley
Australian
Actor
Age:
40 years old
Born In:
Victoria, Australia
1983
Jonah Hill
American
Actor
Age:
41 years old
Born In:
California, USA
1966
Paul Ritter
English
Actor
Died On:
58 years old
Born In:
England, UK
Famous Deaths
Unfortunately, December 20th has also been a day where we’ve had to say some goodbyes over the years…
1977
2009
Brittany Murphy
American
Actress
1977
2009
Brittany Murphy
Brittany Murphy was an American actress born on November 10, 1977. She died on this day in 2009, at age 32 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Died On:
Dec 20, 2009 (Age 32)
Died In:
California, USA
1902
1968
John Steinbeck
American
Author
1902
1968
John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck was an American author born on February 27, 1902. He died on this day in 1968, at age 66 in New York City, New York, USA.
Died On:
Dec 20, 1968 (Age 66)
Died In:
New York, USA
Quotes
Here we have the most notable quotes that have been said on this day throughout history.
1939
No writing has any real value which is not the expression of genuine thought and feeling.
Eleanor Roosevelt
American First Lady
1840
Beware of over-great pleasure in being popular or even beloved.
Margaret Fuller
American Journalist
Special Holidays
If you can spare some time today, here are some unique holidays you could get involved with.
National Sangria Day
While any day can be a day to drink sangria, not every day is Sangria Day! So if you want to celebrate Sangria Day but don’t know how to make it, don’t fret. Cut up some fresh fruit and mix it with your favorite wine, and hey presto – you have sangria!
Games Day
Can you remember the last time you sat with friends and played a game? So get out your Uno cards, chessboard, PlayStation, or Scrabble board, whichever is your favorite, and make some great memories with your friends today.
THe Fact Site’s
Fun Fact Of The Day
Mexico’s presidential palace is 14 times larger than the White House and started allowing visitors for the first time in 2018.
Birthday & Zodiac
People who were born on December 20th all share the Sagittarius zodiac sign.
Sagittarians should focus their attention on making longer-term plans with friends or loved ones. See how you feel after you accomplish this feat – others will certainly notice it.
The Blue Topaz birthstone is given to people born in December. The icy-blue topaz provides special healing powers to those who wear it by recharging the body, mind, and spirit.
For people born on Dec 20, your estimated date of conception falls on March 29 in the same year.
Babies conceived on this day will be due around September 12, 2026.
