Home › Almanac › On This Day

On This Day in History — December 25

‹ December 24 The Almanac December 26 ›

Jump to a date

Highlights of December 25

2024 — After the loss of aircraft systems, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashed near Aktau International Airport while attempting to perform an emergency landing after being hit by a Russian defense missile. Read more
2016 — A Tupolev Tu-154 of the Russian Defence Ministry crashed into the Black Sea shortly after taking off from Sochi International Airport, killing all 92 people on board. Read more
2009 — Aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear. Read more
2009 — A fire destroyed Longford's 19th-century St Mel's Cathedral, considered the "flagship cathedral" of the Irish midlands. Read more
2007 — A tiger at the San Francisco Zoo escaped from its enclosure and attacked three patrons before it was shot and killed. Read more
2000 — Russian president Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill officially adopting a new national anthem, with music by Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov originally composed for the anthem of the Soviet Union. Read more
1991 — In a nationally televised speech, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as President of the Soviet Union. Read more
1990 — British computer programmer Tim Berners-Lee introduced WorldWideWeb, the world's first web browser and WYSIWYG HTML editor. Read more
1989 — Romanian Revolution: Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena were condemned to death on a wide range of charges and executed. Read more
1968 — In Tamil Nadu, India, families of striking Dalit workers were massacred by a gang, allegedly led by their landlords. Read more
1941 — Second World War: The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began when Mark Aitchison Young, the Governor of Hong Kong, surrendered the territory to Japan after 18 days of fierce fighting. Read more
1927 — The Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng, a revolutionary socialist political party that sought Vietnamese independence from French colonial rule, was formed in Hanoi. Read more
1914 — The Royal Navy armed trawler Night Hawk sank after striking a mine, with the loss of six of her crew. Read more
1831 — A Baptist preacher named Samuel Sharpe began an unsuccessful eleven-day slave revolt in Jamaica. Read more
1809 — American physician Ephraim McDowell performed the world's first removal of an ovarian tumor. Read more
1758 — Based on predictions by Edmond Halley in 1705, Johann Georg Palitzsch observed a comet that was later named Halley's Comet . Read more
1725 — J. S. Bach led the first performance of the Christmas cantata Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110, making laughter audible in singing. Read more
1724 — Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, based on the Christmas hymn written by Martin Luther in 1524. Read more
1100 — Baldwin I was crowned the first king of Jerusalem (depicted) in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Read more
1066 — Norman Conquest: William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, but continued to face rebellions over the following years and was not secure on the throne until after 1072. Read more
1046 — Henry III was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement II. Read more
36 — After the death of Emperor Gongsun Shu of Chengjia, the empire was conquered by the Eastern Han dynasty. Read more

Events

2024 — Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of its occupants. Read more
2021 — The James Webb Space Telescope is launched. Read more
2020 — An explosion in Nashville, Tennessee, occurs, leaving three civilians in the hospital. Read more
2019 — Twenty people are killed and thousands are left homeless by Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines. Read more
2016 — A Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble crashes into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff, killing all 92 people on board. Read more
2012 — An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people. Read more
2012 — Air Bagan Flight 011, a Fokker 100, crashes on approach to Heho Airport in Heho, Myanmar, killing two people. Read more
2007 — A Siberian tiger named Tatania escapes her exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo and attacks three people, killing one and injuring two more. Read more
2004 — The Cassini orbiter releases Huygens probe which successfully landed on Saturn's moon Titan on January 14, 2005. Read more
2003 — UTA Flight 141, a Boeing 727-223, crashes at the Cotonou Airport in Benin, killing 141 people. Read more
2003 — The ill-fated Beagle 2 probe, released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19, stops transmitting shortly before its scheduled landing. Read more
1999 — Cubana de Aviación Flight 310, a Yakovlev Yak-42, crashes near Bejuma, Carabobo State, Venezuela, killing 22 people. Read more
1996 — The body of American child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found in her family's Boulder, Colorado, home. Her murder remains unsolved. Read more
1991 — Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as President of the Soviet Union (the union itself is dissolved the next day). Ukraine's referendum is finalized and Ukraine officially leaves the Soviet Union. Read more
1989 — Romanian Revolution: Deposed President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are condemned to death and executed after a summary trial. Read more
1986 — Iraqi Airways Flight 163, a Boeing 737-270C, is hijacked and crashes in Arar, Saudi Arabia, killing 63 people. Read more
1977 — Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meets in Egypt with its president Anwar Sadat. Read more
1976 — EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707-366C, crashes on approach to Don Mueang International Airport, killing 71 people. Read more
1971 — A fire at the Daeyeonggak Hotel in Seoul, South Korea kills 164 people. Read more
1968 — Apollo program: Apollo 8 performs the first successful Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver, sending the crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from Lunar orbit. Read more
1968 — Kilvenmani massacre: Forty-four Dalits (untouchables) are burnt to death in Kizhavenmani village, Tamil Nadu, a retaliation for a campaign for higher wages by Dalit laborers. Read more
1963 — Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio begins transmitting in Cyprus after Turkish Cypriots are forcibly excluded from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Read more
1962 — The Soviet Union conducts its final above-ground nuclear weapon test, in anticipation of the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Read more
1951 — A bomb explodes at the home of Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. S. Moore, early leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, killing Harry instantly and fatally wounding Harriette. Read more
1950 — The Stone of Scone, traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, is taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students. It later turns up in Scotland on April 11, 1951. Read more
1946 — The first European self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is initiated within the Soviet Union's F-1 nuclear reactor. Read more
1941 — Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, appointed commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on December 17, arrives at Pearl Harbor. Read more
1941 — World War II: Battle of Hong Kong ends, beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. Read more
1941 — Admiral Émile Muselier seizes the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which become the first part of France to be liberated by the Free French Forces. Read more
1932 — A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China kills 275 people. Read more
1927 — B. R. Ambedkar and his followers burn copies of the Manusmriti in Mahad, Maharashtra, to protest its treatment of Dalit people. Read more
1915 — The National Protection War breaks out against the Empire of China, as military leaders Cai E and Tang Jiyao proclaim the independence of Yunnan and begin a campaign to restore the Republic. Read more
1914 — World War I: A series of unofficial truces occur across the Western Front to celebrate Christmas. Read more
1913 — Disfellowshipped Adventist lay preacher Felix Manalo begins the new religious movement known as the Iglesia ni Cristo with the baptism of its first members. Read more
1870 — Wagner's Siegfried Idyll is first performed. Read more
1868 — Pardons for ex-Confederates: United States President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all Confederate veterans. Read more
1837 — Second Seminole War: American general Zachary Taylor leads 1,100 troops against the Seminoles at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee. Read more
1831 — The Great Jamaican Slave Revolt begins; up to 20% of Jamaica's slaves mobilize in an ultimately unsuccessful fight for freedom. Read more
1826 — The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy concludes after beginning the previous evening. Read more
1815 — The Handel and Haydn Society, oldest continually performing arts organization in the United States, gives its first performance. Read more
1814 — Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at Rangihoua Bay. Read more
1809 — Dr. Ephraim McDowell performs the first ovariotomy, removing a 22-pound tumor. Read more
1793 — Northwest Indian War: General "Mad Anthony" Wayne and a 300 man detachment identify the site of St. Clair's 1791 defeat by the large number of unburied human remains at modern Fort Recovery, Ohio. Read more
1776 — American Revolutionary War: General George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day. Read more
1766 — Mapuches in Chile launch a series of surprise attacks against the Spanish starting the Mapuche uprising of 1766. Read more
1758 — Halley's Comet is sighted by Johann Georg Palitzsch, confirming Edmund Halley's prediction of its passage. This was the first passage of a comet predicted ahead of time. Read more
1725 — J. S. Bach leads the first performance of the Christmas cantata Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110, making laughter audible in singing. Read more
1724 — J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, in Leipzig, based on Luther's 1524 Christmas hymn. Read more
1559 — Pope Pius IV is elected, four months after his predecessor's death. Read more
1553 — Battle of Tucapel: Mapuche rebels under Lautaro defeat the Spanish conquistadors and executes the governor of Chile, Pedro de Valdivia. Read more
1492 — The carrack Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, runs onto a reef off Haiti due to an improper watch. Read more
1356 — Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, promulgates the Golden Bull, a constitution for his empire. Read more
1261 — Eleven-year-old John IV Laskaris of the restored Eastern Roman Empire is deposed and blinded by orders of his co-ruler Michael VIII Palaiologos. Read more
1130 — Count Roger II of Sicily is crowned the first king of Sicily. Read more
1100 — Baldwin of Boulogne is crowned the first King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Read more
1076 — Coronation of Bolesław II the Generous as king of Poland. Read more
1066 — William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy is crowned king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London. Read more
1046 — Henry III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement II. Read more
1025 — Coronation of Mieszko II Lambert as king of Poland. Read more
1013 — Sweyn Forkbeard takes control of the Danelaw and is proclaimed king of England. Read more

Born on December 25

2000 — Wilfried Singo, Ivorian footballer Read more
1999 — Adut Akech, South Sudanese-Australian fashion model Read more
1996 — Emiliano Buendía, Argentine footballer Read more
1993 — Emi Takei, Japanese actress, fashion model and singer Read more
1992 — Mitakeumi Hisashi, Japanese sumo wrestler Read more
1991 — Avu-chan, Japanese musician, songwriter, actor, model and producer Read more
1988 — Eric Gordon, American basketball player Read more
1988 — Lukas Hinds-Johnson, German rugby player Read more
1988 — Joãozinho, Brazilian footballer Read more
1987 — Ceyhun Gülselam, Turkish footballer Read more
1987 — Demaryius Thomas, American football player (died 2021) Read more
1985 — Martin Mathathi, Kenyan runner Read more
1985 — Rusev, Bulgarian-American professional wrestler Read more
1985 — Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukrainian politician, 19th Prime Minister of Ukraine Read more
1984 — Chris Cahill, Samoan footballer Read more
1984 — Alastair Cook, English cricketer Read more
1984 — Chris Richard, American basketball player Read more
1982 — Shawn Andrews, American football player Read more
1982 — Rob Edwards, Welsh footballer Read more
1982 — Ethan Kath, Canadian keyboard player, songwriter and producer Read more
1982 — Chris Rene, American singer-songwriter and producer Read more
1981 — Trenesha Biggers, American wrestler and model Read more
1981 — Camille Herron, American ultramarathon runner Read more
1981 — Christian Holst, Danish-Faroese footballer Read more
1981 — Willy Taveras, Dominican baseball player Read more
1980 — Laura Sadler, English actress (died 2003) Read more
1980 — Marcus Trufant, American football player Read more
1979 — Ferman Akgül, Turkish singer-songwriter Read more
1979 — Laurent Bonnart, French footballer Read more
1979 — Robert Huff, English race car driver Read more
1979 — Hyun Young-min, South Korean footballer Read more
1978 — Simon Jones, Welsh cricketer Read more
1978 — Joel Porter, Australian footballer and manager Read more
1978 — Jeremy Strong, American actor Read more
1977 — Ali Tandoğan, Turkish footballer Read more
1977 — Israel Vázquez, Mexican boxer (died 2024) Read more
1976 — Tuomas Holopainen, Finnish keyboard player, songwriter, and producer Read more
1976 — Atko Väikmeri, Estonian footballer Read more
1976 — Armin van Buuren, Dutch DJ and record producer Read more
1975 — Hideki Okajima, Japanese baseball player Read more

Died on December 25

2024 — Britt Allcroft, English writer (born 1943) Read more
2024 — Bill Bergey, American football player (born 1945) Read more
2024 — Jax Dane, American professional wrestler (born 1976) Read more
2024 — M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Indian author and screenwriter (born 1933) Read more
2024 — Osamu Suzuki, Japanese businessman (born 1930) Read more
2023 — Jim Breaks, British wrestler (born 1940) Read more
2022 — Fabián O'Neill, Uruguayan footballer (born 1973) Read more
2021 — Wayne Thiebaud, American artist (born 1920) Read more
2020 — K. C. Jones, American basketball player and coach (born 1932) Read more
2019 — Ari Behn, Norwegian writer (born 1972) Read more
2018 — Sulagitti Narasamma, Indian midwife (born 1920) Read more
2017 — D. Herbert Lipson, American magazine publisher (Philadelphia, Boston) (born 1929) Read more
2016 — Valery Khalilov, Russian military musician and composer (born 1952) Read more
2016 — George Michael, British singer and songwriter (born 1963) Read more
2016 — Vera Rubin, American astronomer (born 1928) Read more
2015 — George Clayton Johnson, American author and screenwriter (born 1929) Read more
2015 — Dorothy M. Murdock, American author and historian (born 1961) Read more
2014 — Ricardo Porro, Cuban-French architect (born 1925) Read more
2014 — Geoff Pullar, English cricketer (born 1935) Read more
2014 — David Ryall, English actor (born 1935) Read more
2013 — Anthony J. Bryant, American historian and author (born 1961) Read more
2013 — David R. Harris, English geographer, anthropologist, archaeologist and academic (born 1930) Read more
2013 — Wayne Harrison, English footballer (born 1967) Read more
2013 — Mike Hegan, American baseball player and sportscaster (born 1942) Read more
2013 — Lola Lange, Canadian rural feminist and appointee to the Royal Commission on the Status of Women (born 1922) Read more
2013 — Mel Mathay, Filipino politician, 8th Mayor of Quezon City (born 1932) Read more
2012 — Erico Aumentado, Filipino journalist, lawyer, and politician (born 1940) Read more
2012 — Halfdan Hegtun, Norwegian radio host and politician (born 1918) Read more
2012 — Joe Krivak, American football player and coach (born 1935) Read more
2012 — Turki bin Sultan, Saudi Arabian politician (born 1959) Read more
2012 — Şerafettin Elçi, Turkish lawyer, politician, government minister (born 1938) Read more
2011 — Giorgio Bocca, Italian journalist (born 1920) Read more
2011 — Jim Sherwood, American saxophonist (born 1942) Read more
2011 — Simms Taback, American author and illustrator (born 1932) Read more
2010 — Carlos Andrés Pérez, Venezuelan politician, 66th President of Venezuela (born 1922) Read more
2009 — Vic Chesnutt, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1964) Read more
2008 — Eartha Kitt, American singer and actress (born 1927) Read more
2007 — Des Barrick, English cricketer (born 1927) Read more
2007 — Jim Beauchamp, American baseball player and coach (born 1939) Read more
2006 — James Brown, American singer-songwriter (born 1933) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christmas Day, Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. (Internationally observed); Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Catholic Church); Christian feast day: Stephen (Armenian Apostolic Church); Christian feast day: December 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Children's Day (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo); Tulsi Pujan Diwas (India); Constitution Day (Taiwan); Good Governance Day (India); Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan); Takanakuy (Chumbivilcas Province, Peru)

More from the Almanac

Sunrise & Sunset Star Transit Moon & Planting Calendars Ancient Measures

Events, births and deaths from Wikipedia contributors, “December 25”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Lists are selections; the full record lives at the source.