German armies took Allied forces by surprise in the Ardennes, marking the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge.
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Vasco da Gama became the first European to sail along Africa's East Coast.
Virginia became the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
A five-day pollution red alert was declared in Beijing and 21 other Chinese cities.
Mariah Carey's single 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' reached number one, 25 years after its release.
The Boston Tea Party protest occurred.
