If you look back at the calendar, December 5th is one of the strangest days in history. It is a day of massive celebrations, tragic deaths, and one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time.
From the birth of Mickey Mouse’s creator to the day alcohol became legal again, here are the 5 most interesting things that happened on this day.
1. The Mystery of Flight 19 (1945)
On December 5, 1945, the legend of the Bermuda Triangle was born.
Five US Navy torpedo bombers, known as “Flight 19,” took off from Florida for a routine training mission. The weather was clear. The pilots were experienced. But a few hours later, the flight leader radioed a chilling message: “Everything looks strange, even the ocean… We are entering white water, nothing seems right.”
All five planes vanished. To make matters worse, a rescue plane sent to find them also disappeared. No wreckage or bodies were ever found. To this day, Flight 19 remains the most famous case of the Bermuda Triangle mystery.
2. Prohibition Ends: America Gets Drunk Again (1933)
If you enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer, you should raise a toast to December 5, 1933.
On this day, the 21st Amendment was ratified, officially repealing Prohibition. For 13 years, it had been illegal to manufacture or sell alcohol in the United States, which only led to the rise of gangsters like Al Capone.
When the law was finally lifted, Americans celebrated in the streets. President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously remarked, “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”
3. The Mysterious Death of Mozart (1791)
On December 5, 1791, the musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna at the age of just 35.
His death is shrouded in mystery. He became convinced he was being poisoned, telling his wife, “I feel that I will not last much longer; I am sure that I have been poisoned.” While modern science suggests he likely died of kidney failure or strep throat, rumors persisted for centuries that his rival, Antonio Salieri, murdered him.
He was buried in a pauper’s grave with no marker, leaving the world to wonder what other masterpieces he could have written.
4. The Great Smog of London Begins (1952)
On December 5, 1952, a thick, yellow fog descended on London. Residents didn’t think much of it—London was famous for fog, after all.
But this wasn’t normal fog. A mixture of cold weather, lack of wind, and coal pollution turned the air into a toxic gas chamber. The “Great Smog” lasted for five days and blocked out the sun. It was so dark that movie theaters had to close because the projector light couldn’t reach the screen.
By the time it lifted, 4,000 people had died from breathing the toxic air, leading to the world’s first major clean air laws.
5. Walt Disney Was Born (1901)
On a lighter note, December 5, 1901, marked the birth of Walter Elias Disney in Chicago.
He would go on to be fired from a newspaper because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Fortunately, he didn’t listen. He created Mickey Mouse, the first full-length animated movie (Snow White), and the modern theme park.
So, if you are watching a Disney movie today, you know who to thank.
Conclusion
December 5th is a reminder that history is never boring. In a single 24-hour window across different years, we lost a musical genius, gained a cartoon legend, lost 5 airplanes to a mystery, and finally got the right to legally drink a beer.
Which event do you find most interesting? Read more about the Bermuda Triangle or check out our History section for more daily facts.
