December 23: Night of the Radishes in Oaxaca City, Mexico; FestivusVincent van Gogh1776 American Revolutionary War: American troops, overwhelmed by British reinforcements, retreated from the Battle of Iron Works Hill.1888 During a bout of mental illness, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (pictured) severed part of his left ear and gave it to a woman in a brothel in Arles, France.1916 First World War: Allied forces gained a strategic victory at the Battle of Magdhaba on the Sinai Peninsula.1957 Leading the Australia national cricket team, Ian Craig became the youngest-ever Test cricket captain at the time.2008 The Guinean military engineered a coup d'tat, announcing that it planned to rule the country for two years prior to a new presidential election.Carl Gustaf Wrangel (b.1613)Dost Mohammad Khan (b.1792)Carla Bruni (b.1967)Chryssa (d.2013)More anniversaries: December 22December 23December 24ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout