December 17th: Themes for celebration and contemplation
If you are looking for some themes and points of interest to add to your advent countdown, the Bulldogz Christmas spirit is in full flow and we can provide you with some of the fun, serious and little known points of celebration for each day on this magical countdown.
The final round of Last 16 matches take place today in the Christmas film world cup
December 17
Wright Brothers Day
This is a United States celebration initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959 to commemorate the fact brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright first flew in a mechanically propelled plane on this day in 1903.
The Smithsonian Museum have a wealth of Wright Brothers teaching resources for various age groups here.
But there are legion teaching resources available across the internet on this topic and the google search page can be found here
December 17th in History
Events
1538 – Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England.
1892 – First issue of Vogue is published.
1903 – The Wright brothers make the first controlled powered, heavier-than-air flight in the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
1989 – The Simpsons premieres on television with the episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire".
2010 – Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring.
Births
1987 – Chelsea Manning, American soldier and intelligence analyst
Deaths
2010 – Captain Beefheart, American singer-songwriter (b. 1941)
Christmas films
On Christmas Eve, a young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him to the North Pole to meet Father Christmas
At only thirty minutes this is a quick slice of festive love, but you would be hard pushed to find any other 30 minute experience that packs so much joy, wonder and emotional power. Based on the beautiful illustrated book by Raymond Briggs.
Group H First seed: Three times quarter finalist, the best performing animated film in the competition. Sent home at Last 16 stage this year by Gremlins
Christmas music
"Step into Christmas" by Elton John is frequently overlooked in the Christmas song pantheon but is steadily growing in popularity as time goes by. Find out more here.