What happened on December 13 ?

Roman festivals - Tellus was worshipped in the district Carinae at the Esquiline Hill, and a lectisternium or table was spread for Ceres.

R.C. Saints - memorial of Saint Lucy

Also see December 13 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

In the Julian calendar before the Gregorian reform, this was the shortest day and longest night, and widely celebrated as such

In the Irish calendar the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday following the Feast of Saint Lucy were observed as Quarter tense.

Malta - Republic Day (since 1974)

St. Lucia's Day in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.