1. On December 20, 1860, North Carolina became the ninth state to secede from the United States and join the Confederate States of America. The state played a significant role in the Civil War as both a major food supplier and a battleground for key battles.

2. In 1985, a severe winter storm hit North Carolina on December 20, bringing snow and ice and causing widespread power outages. The storm was one of the largest natural disasters in the state's history, with damages estimated at over $74 million.

3. On December 20, 2005, Governor Mike Easley signed into law a bill that established the North Carolina Military Business Center. The center is dedicated to supporting the state's military installations and the contractors and businesses that serve them.

4. In 2013, the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team suffered a rare loss on December 20, falling to the nationally ranked University of Arizona team. It was only the second loss of the season for the Blue Devils, who went on to win the ACC championship.

5. December 20, 1984 marked the premiere of the movie "The Natural" in North Carolina theaters. The film, which stars Robert Redford as a baseball player, was based on the 1952 novel of the same name by North Carolina author Bernard Malamud.