Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was published for the first time on this day in 1843.

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The "discovery" of the Piltdown Man was announced on this day in 1912. There's more to the story in the December 26, 2016 episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class. 

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The observance of Saturnalia begins on December 17, although we don't know precisely which year the first Saturnalia was observed. There's more detail in the December 23, 2009 episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class.

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American colonists in Boston protested British rule with the Boston Tea Party incident on this day in 1773.

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Sitting Bull, the Hunkpapa Lakota leader and seminal Native American figure, was killed at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation on this day in 1890.

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Roald Amundsen and his expedition became the first people to reach the South Pole, beating Robert Falcon Scott's expedition, on this day in 1911.

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Ibn Battuta, one of the most accomplished travelers of the medieval Islamic world, completed his travelogue known as the Rihla, or Journey, on this day in 1355.

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The Oaks Colliery exploded on this day in 1866.

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Louis XVI was indicted for treason on this day in 1792. There's more detail in the November 19, 2008 episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class.

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Japan's 300 Million Yen Robbery took place on this day in 1968.

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