On This Day — December 24

🕰️ Notable Events on December 24

• 2008 — Lord's Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel group, begins a series of attacks on Democratic Republic of the Congo, massacring more than 400. Wikipedia ↗
• 2005 — Chad-Sudan relations: Chad declares a state of war against Sudan following a December 18 attack on Adré, which left about 100 people dead. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — The Spanish police thwart an attempt by ETA to detonate 50 kg of explosives at 3:55 p.m. inside Madrid's busy Chamartín Station. Wikipedia ↗
• 1999 — Indian Airlines Flight 814 is hijacked in Indian airspace between Kathmandu, Nepal, and Delhi, India. The aircraft landed at Kandahar in Afghanistan. The incident ended on December 31 with the release of 190 survivors (one passenger is killed). Wikipedia ↗
• 1997 — The Sid El-Antri massacre in Algeria kills between 50 and 100 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Air France Flight 8969 is hijacked on the ground at Houari Boumediene Airport, Algiers, Algeria. Over the course of three days three passengers are killed, as are all four terrorists. Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Witnesses report the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, an incident called "Britain's Roswell". Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin, Australia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — District of Columbia Home Rule Act is passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — The oil company Phillips Petroleum made the first oil discovery in the Norwegian sector of North Sea. Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Nigerian troops capture Umuahia, the Biafran capital. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Apollo program: The crew of Apollo 8 enters into orbit around the Moon, becoming the first humans to do so. They performed ten lunar orbits and broadcast live TV pictures. Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — A Canadair CL-44 chartered by the United States military crashes into a small village in South Vietnam, killing 129. Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Vietnam War: Viet Cong operatives bomb the Brinks Hotel in Saigon, South Vietnam to demonstrate they can strike an American installation in the heavily guarded capital. Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Tangiwai disaster: In New Zealand's North Island, at Tangiwai, a railway bridge is damaged by a lahar and collapses beneath a passenger train, killing 151 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Libya becomes independent from Italy. Idris I is proclaimed King of Libya. Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Five of nine children become missing after their home in Fayetteville, West Virginia, is burned down. Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — World War II: U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower is named Supreme Allied Commander for the Invasion of Normandy. Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — World War II: French monarchist, Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle, assassinates Vichy French Admiral François Darlan in Algiers, Algeria. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: Kuching is conquered by Japanese forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: Benghazi is conquered by British forces. Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — World War II: Pope Pius XII makes a Christmas Eve appeal for peace. Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Assassination attempt on Argentine President Hipólito Yrigoyen. Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Albania becomes a republic. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — World War I: The "Christmas truce" begins. Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — The Italian Hall disaster in Calumet, Michigan results in the deaths of 73 Christmas party participants (including 59 children) when someone falsely yells "fire". Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Lackawanna Cut-Off railway line opens in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Radio: Reginald Fessenden transmits the first radio broadcast; consisting of a poetry reading, a violin solo, and a speech. Wikipedia ↗
• 1871 — Aida opens in Cairo, Egypt. Wikipedia ↗
• 1865 — The Ku Klux Klan is formed. Wikipedia ↗
• 1851 — Library of Congress burns. Wikipedia ↗
• 1846 — British acquired Labuan from the Sultanate of Brunei for Great Britain. Wikipedia ↗
• 1826 — The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy begins that night, wrapping up the following morning. Wikipedia ↗
• 1818 — The first performance of "Silent Night" takes place in the church of St. Nikolaus in Oberndorf, Austria. Wikipedia ↗
• 1814 — Representatives of Britain and the United States sign the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812. Wikipedia ↗
• 1800 — The Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise fails to kill Napoleon Bonaparte. Wikipedia ↗
• 1777 — Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is discovered by James Cook. Wikipedia ↗
• 1500 — A joint Venetian-Spanish fleet captures the Castle of St. George on the island of Cephalonia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1294 — Pope Boniface VIII is elected, replacing St. Celestine V, who had resigned. Wikipedia ↗
• 1144 — The capital of the crusader County of Edessa falls to Imad ad-Din Zengi, the atabeg of Mosul and Aleppo. Wikipedia ↗
• 759 — Tang dynasty poet Du Fu departs for Chengdu, where he is hosted by fellow poet Pei Di. Wikipedia ↗
• 640 — Pope John IV is elected. Wikipedia ↗
• 502 — Chinese emperor Xiao Yan names Xiao Tong his heir designate. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 24

• 1994 — Fa'amanu Brown, New Zealand rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1994 — Miguel Castro, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Lara Michel, Swiss tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Wasim Tareen, Pakistani footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1991 — Louis Tomlinson, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Brigetta Barrett, American high jumper Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Marcus Jordan, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Ryo Miyake, Japanese fencer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Stefanos Athanasiadis, Greek footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Emre Özkan, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Simon Zenke, Nigerian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Jane Summersett, American ice dancer Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Tim Elliott, American mixed martial artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1986 — Kyrylo Fesenko, Ukrainian basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Alexey Dmitriev, German ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — David Ragan, American race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Isaac De Gois, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Dima Bilan, Russian singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Maarja Liis-Ilus, Estonian pop musician Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Stephen Appiah, Ghanaian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Tomas Kalnoky, Czech-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Chris Hero, American wrestler and trainer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Yıldıray Baştürk, German-Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Warren Tredrea, Australian footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Michael Raymond-James, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Linda Ferga, French hurdler Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Thure Lindhardt, Danish actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Paal Nilssen-Love, Norwegian drummer and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Marcelo Salas, Chilean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — Ryan Seacrest, American radio host and television personality, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1974 — J.D. Walsh, American actor, director, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Liu Dong, Chinese-Spanish runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Paul Foot, English comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Stephenie Meyer, American author and film producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Ali Salem Tamek, Moroccan activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Álvaro Mesén, Costa Rican footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Klaus Schnellenkamp, Chilean businessman and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Geoff Allott, New Zealand cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Sascha Fischer, German rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Ricky Martin, Puerto Rican-American singer-songwriter and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Adam Haslett, American author and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Amaury Nolasco, Puerto Rican-American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Brad Anderson, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Milan Blagojevic, Australian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Pernille Fischer Christensen, Danish director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Taro Goto, Japanese soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Leavander Johnson, American boxer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Ryuji Kato, Japanese soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Nick Love, English director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Clinton McKinnon, American saxophonist and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Ed Miliband, English academic and politician, Minister for the Cabinet Office Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Mark Millar, Scottish author Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Luis Musrri, Chilean footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Oleg Skripochka, Russian astronaut and engineer Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Gintaras Staučė, Lithuanian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Michael Zucchet, American economist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Doyle Bramhall II, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Marleen Renders, Belgian runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Mikhail Shchennikov, Russian race walker Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Pernilla Wahlgren, Swedish singer and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Diedrich Bader, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Millard Powers, American bass player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Mark Valley, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Caroline Aherne, English actress, producer, and screenwriter (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Jay Bilas, American basketball player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Timo Jutila, Finnish ice hockey player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Mary Ramsey, American singer-songwriter and violinist Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Neil Turbin, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — Kate Spade, American fashion designer, co-founded Kate Spade New York Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Mary Barra, American businesswoman, current CEO and chairwoman of General Motors Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Eriko Kitagawa, Japanese director and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Darren Wharton, English singer-songwriter and keyboard player Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Wade Williams, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Jay Wright, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani businessman and politician, 4th President of Azerbaijan Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Glenn McQueen, Canadian-American animator (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1960 — Carol Vorderman, English television host Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Chris Blackhurst, English journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Lee Daniels, American director and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Munetaka Higuchi, Japanese drummer and producer (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Paul Pressey, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Gene Sperling, American economist Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Hamid Karzai, Afghan politician, 12th President of Afghanistan Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Diane Tell, Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Scott Fischer, American mountaineer and guide (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1955 — Clarence Gilyard, American actor and educator Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Yves Debay, Congolese-French commander and journalist (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — José María Figueres, Costa Rican businessman and politician, President of Costa Rica Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Helen Jones, English lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Dale Brown Emeagwali, American microbiologist and cancer researcher Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Timothy Carhart, American actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — John D'Acquisto, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1951 — Nick Kent, English-French journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Dana Gioia, American poet and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Hiroshi Ikushima, Japanese businessman and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Libby Larsen, American composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Warwick Brown, Australian race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Randy Neugebauer, American accountant and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Stan Bowles, English footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Frank Oliver, New Zealand rugby player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1947 — Kevin Sheedy, Australian footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Jan Akkerman, Dutch rock guitarist and songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Jeff Sessions, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 44th Attorney General of Alabama Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Lemmy, English hard rock singer-songwriter and bass player (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Steve Smith, Canadian-American actor and comedian Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Barry Elliot, English actor and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Mike Curb, American businessman and politician, 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Oswald Gracias, Indian cardinal Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Daniel Johnson, Jr., Canadian lawyer and politician, 25th Premier of Quebec Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Erhard Keller, German speed skater Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Bob Shaw, Australian golfer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Woody Shaw, American trumpeter (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Tarja Halonen, Finnish lawyer and politician, 11th President of Finland Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Suzy Menkes, English journalist and critic Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Indra Bania, Indian actor, director, and playwright (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Jonathan Borofsky, American sculptor and painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Đoàn Viết Hoạt, Vietnamese journalist, educator, and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Mike Hazlewood, English singer-songwriter (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Janet Carroll, American actress and singer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Bobby Henrich, American baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Valentim Loureiro, Portuguese soldier and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — Félix Miélli Venerando, Brazilian footballer and manager (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — John Taylor, Baron Kilclooney, Northern Irish politician, Irish Minister of Home Affairs Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Ivan Lawrence, English lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — John Critchinson, English pianist and composer Wikipedia ↗
• 1934 — Stjepan Mesić, Croatian lawyer and politician, 2nd President of Croatia Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Colin Cowdrey, Indian-English cricketer (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — On Kawara, Japanese-American painter (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Ray Bryant, American pianist and composer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1931 — Mauricio Kagel, Argentinian-German composer and scholar (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Robert Joffrey, American dancer and choreographer (d. 1988) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — John J. Kelley, American runner (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Lennart Skoglund, Swedish footballer (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Philip Ziegler, English historian and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Lev Vlassenko, Georgian-Australian pianist and educator (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Mary Higgins Clark, American author Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Lee Dorsey, American singer-songwriter (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Abdirizak Haji Hussein, Somalian soldier and politician, 4th Prime Minister of Somalia (d. 2014) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Mohammed Rafi, Indian singer (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Norman Rossington, English actor (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — George Patton IV, American general (d. 2004) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — Ava Gardner, American actress (d. 1990) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Bill Dudley, American football player (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Franco Lucentini, Italian author and screenwriter (d. 2002) Wikipedia ↗
• 1920 — Yevgeniya Rudneva, Ukrainian-Russian lieutenant and navigator (d. 1944) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Qateel Shifai, Pakistani poet and songwriter (d. 2001) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Pierre Soulages, French artist Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Ralph Marterie, Italian-American trumpet player and bandleader (d. 1978) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Herbert Reinecker, German author and screenwriter (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Ad Reinhardt, American painter and academic (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Ellen Braumüller, German javelin thrower and triathlete (d. 1991) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Fritz Leiber, American author and poet (d. 1992) Wikipedia ↗
• 1910 — Max Miedinger, Swiss typeface designer, created Helvetica (d. 1980) Wikipedia ↗
• 1907 — I. F. Stone, American journalist and author (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1906 — Franz Waxman, German-American composer and conductor (d. 1967) Wikipedia ↗
• 1905 — Howard Hughes, American businessman, engineer, and pilot (d. 1976) Wikipedia ↗
• 1904 — Joseph M. Juran, Romanian-American engineer and businessman (d. 2008) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 24 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on December 24

🏛️ Public Holidays

Also in: Christmas Eve (CZ,DK,FI,PH,PL,SE,VE) · Jouluaatto (FI) · Nochebuena (VE) · Pihenőnap (2026. 12. 12.-től helyettesítve) (HU) · Štědrý den (CZ) · Wigilia Bożego Narodzenia (PL)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Islamic: Urs of Sayyidina Jāfar as-Sādiq (ق)
• Islamic: Urs of Zaynab bint Ali (ر)
• Christian: Christmas Eve