2014 Event The Vatican issues a document indicating that the Catholic Church is taking a softer stance on relationships outside of traditional marriage, upholding the church's views but advocating respect for unmarried couples and homosexual unions 2012 Event At St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Rome, Pope Benedict XVI delivers the annual Christmas Message and holds traditional Mass at St. Peters Basilica 1997 Death Belle Stewart, Scottish traditional singer, dies at 91 1996 Death Walter Pardon, carpenter/traditional singer, dies at 81 1993 Death Roy Armstrong, English historian (Traditional buildings), dies at 91 1986 Event 1 million days since traditional foundation of Rome, 4/21/753 BC 1971 Death Sean O. Riada, born in County Limerick, Ireland, bandleader, composer, influential in 1960's traditional Irish music renaissance, dies at 40 1968 Death Jan Johansson, composer, pianist, infused traditional European folks tunes with jazz, avant garde style, dies at 37 in a car crash in Jonkoping, Sweden 1967 Event Uganda abolishes traditional tribal kingdoms, becomes a republic 1957 Death Ch'i Pai-shih, traditional Chinese painter, dies at 93 1931 Birthday Jan Johansson, born in Soderhamn, Sweden, composer, pianist, infused traditional European folks tunes with jazz, avant garde style 1931 Birthday Sean O. Riada, born in County Limerick, Ireland, bandleader, composer, influential in 1960's traditional Irish music renaissance 1930 Birthday Velio Tormis, born in Estonia, composed music based on traditional ancient Estonian folksongs, most important composer in 20th century Estonia 1906 Birthday Belle Stewart, born near Bloirgowrie, Scotland, Scottish traditional singer, led life of a Scottish Traveler, daughter Sheila Stewart wrote her biography 'Queen Amang the Heather; the Life of Belle Stewart' 1866 Birthday Sun Yat-sen, father of modern China, ROC and PRC, traditional 1863 Birthday Ch'i Pai-shih, China, traditional Chinese painter
