According to Wikipedia (that source of all things true and correct), the eclipse on December 21, was the first total lunar eclipse to occur on the day of the Northern Winter Solstice (Southern Summer Solstice) since 1638, and only the second in the Common Era. Not sure that the timing makes it special, but it sure make it rare.
Here is a time-lapse video of the eclipse for those who could not stay awake or, like me, were in a cloudy spot.
You earn extra points for explaining the ruddy color of the moon during the totality and why it is not simply black (invisible).
