BIRTHDAY ATLAS

Birthday facts

Born on December 22.

Everyone born on December 22 is a Capricorn — ruled by Saturn, will outwork you, quietly. The stone is turquoise, the flower narcissus, and the day is shared with Srinivasa Ramanujan and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — an engraving
Sun sign
Capricorn ♑︎
the Sea-Goat · ruled by Saturn · will outwork you, quietly
Turquoise, the birthstone for December — an engraving
Birthstone
Turquoise
December
Narcissus, the birth flower for December — an engraving
Birth flower
Narcissus
& holly

Your book

Born on December 22? Add the year.

Then it is a pop-up book: the sky the day you arrived, the No. 1 that week, the president, what a stamp cost, your life in weeks, and who was exactly your age when they did the thing they are known for — and at the end, a birthday poster of the day, engraved, to take home. One field. The date lives after the # in the link, which no server sees — nothing about you leaves your browser.

Making it for someone else? Send it as a pop-up birthday card.

The old books say

Capricorn, December 22 to January 19.

The Sea-Goat, ruled by Saturn, the taskmaster, and the books make it the sign of the long game — the climb, the plan, the thing built to last. An earth sign, credited with discipline, dry humour and an old head on young shoulders that grows into itself around forty. Its people are said to arrive late to their own success and stay. The tradition respects Capricorn the way one respects a well-kept ledger.

Astrology, reported rather than endorsed — the astronomy is the part of the book that is real.

Good company

Also born on December 22.

The names most looked up among everyone who shares the day — leaning on the ones who last.

1887
Srinivasa Ramanujan
Indian mathematician and theorist
1960
Jean-Michel Basquiat
American poet and painter
1962
Ralph Fiennes
English actor
1666
Guru Gobind Singh
Indian poet and guru
244
Diocletian
Roman emperor
1945
Diane Sawyer
American journalist
1912
Lady Bird Johnson
American beautification activist
1970
Ted Cruz
Canadian-American lawyer and politician

On this day

What December 22 has seen.

It is Dongzhi Festival in China.

1807In an effort to avoid engaging in the Napoleonic Wars, the United States Congress passed the Embargo Act, forbidding American ships from engaging in trade with foreign nations.
1920The Congress of Soviets approved the GOELRO plan, the first Soviet plan for national economic recovery and development.
1939Members of the All-India Muslim League observed a "Day of Deliverance" to celebrate the resignations of members of the Indian National Congress over the decision to enter the Second World War at the request of the United Kingdom.
1997Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquished the disputed title of President of Somalia.
2010The United States repealed its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the military (signing pictured).

The calendar

When December 22 falls.

A Tuesday in 2026, a Wednesday in 2027, a Friday in 2028, a Saturday in 2029, and a Sunday in 2030.