On This Day — December 25

🕰️ Notable Events on December 25

• 2012 — An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2004 — The Cassini orbiter releases Huygens probe which successfully landed on Saturn's moon Titan on January 14, 2005. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — UTAGE Flight 141, a Boeing 727-223, crashes at the Cotonou Airport in Benin, killing 151 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 2003 — The ill-fated Beagle 2 probe, released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19, stops transmitting shortly before its scheduled landing. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Deposed President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are condemned to death and executed after a summary trial. Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meets in Egypt with its president Anwar Sadat. Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Apollo program: Apollo 8 performs the very first successful Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver, sending the crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from Lunar orbit. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1963 — Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio begins transmitting in Cyprus after Turkish Cypriots are forcibly excluded from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Wikipedia ↗
• 1962 — The Soviet Union conducts its final above-ground nuclear weapon test, in anticipation of the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — The first European self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is initiated within the Soviet Union's F-1 nuclear reactor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Admiral Chester W. Nimitz arrives at Pearl Harbor to assume command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — World War II: Battle of Hong Kong ends, beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Regina Jonas is ordained as the first female rabbi in the history of Judaism. Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China kills 275 people. Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — A series of unofficial truces occur across the Western Front to celebrate Christmas. Wikipedia ↗
• 1868 — United States President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all Confederate veterans. Wikipedia ↗
• 1837 — Second Seminole War: American general Zachary Taylor leads 1100 troops against the Seminoles at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee. Wikipedia ↗
• 1831 — The Great Jamaican Slave Revolt begins; up to 20% of the island's slaves mobilize in an ultimately unsuccessful fight for freedom. Wikipedia ↗
• 1826 — The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy concludes after beginning the previous evening. Wikipedia ↗
• 1815 — The Handel and Haydn Society, oldest continually performing arts organization in the United States, gives its first performance. Wikipedia ↗
• 1814 — Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at Rangihoua Bay. Wikipedia ↗
• 1809 — Dr. Ephraim McDowell performs the first ovariotomy, removing a 22-pound tumor. Wikipedia ↗
• 1776 — 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 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. Wikipedia ↗
• 1559 — Pope Pius IV is elected. Wikipedia ↗
• 1553 — Battle of Tucapel: Mapuche rebels under Lautaro defeat the Spanish conquistadors and executes the governor of Chile, Pedro de Valdivia. Wikipedia ↗
• 1492 — The carrack Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, runs onto a reef off Haiti due to an improper watch. Wikipedia ↗
• 1261 — John IV Laskaris of the restored Eastern Roman Empire is deposed and blinded by orders of his co-ruler Michael VIII Palaiologos. Wikipedia ↗
• 1130 — Count Roger II of Sicily is crowned the first king of Sicily. Wikipedia ↗
• 1100 — Baldwin of Boulogne is crowned the first King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Wikipedia ↗
• 1076 — Coronation of Bolesław II the Generous as king of Poland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1066 — William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy is crowned king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London. Wikipedia ↗
• 1025 — Coronation of Mieszko II Lambert as king of Poland. Wikipedia ↗
• 1000 — The foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary: Hungary is established as a Christian kingdom by Stephen I of Hungary. Wikipedia ↗
• 820 — Emperor Leo V is assassinated in the Hagia Sophia at Constantinople and is succeeded by Michael II. Wikipedia ↗
• 800 — The Coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor, in Rome. Wikipedia ↗
• 597 — Augustine of Canterbury and his fellow-labourers baptise in Kent more than 10,000 Anglo-Saxons. Wikipedia ↗
• 496 — Clovis I, king of the Franks, is baptized into the Catholic faith at Reims, by Saint Remigius. Wikipedia ↗
• 350 — Vetranio meets Constantius II at Naissus (Serbia) and is forced to abdicate his title (Caesar). Constantius allows him to live as a private citizen on a state pension. Wikipedia ↗
• 336 — First documentary sign of Christmas celebration in Rome. Wikipedia ↗
• 333 — Roman Emperor Constantine the Great elevates his youngest son Constans to the rank of Caesar. Wikipedia ↗
• 274 — A temple for Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian. Wikipedia ↗

🎂 Notable Births on December 25

• 1993 — Ariadna Gutiérrez, Colombian Model Wikipedia ↗
• 1992 — Mitakeumi Hisashi, Japanese sumo wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1990 — Conny Perrin, Swiss tennis player Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Djameleddine Benlamri, Algerian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1989 — Adrian von Ziegler, Swiss composer and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Joãozinho, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Heather Cooke, American soccer player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Eric Gordon, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1988 — Lukas Hinds-Johnson, German rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Ceyhun Gülselam, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Justin Sweeney, Australian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1987 — Demaryius Thomas, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Martin Mathathi, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1985 — Rusev, Bulgarian professional wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Chris Cahill, Samoan footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Alastair Cook, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Jessica Origliasso, Australian singer, actress, and fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Lisa Origliasso, Australian singer, actress, and fashion designer Wikipedia ↗
• 1984 — Chris Richard, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Shawn Andrews, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Rob Edwards, Welsh footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Ethan Kath, Canadian keyboard player, songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1982 — Chris Rene, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Trenesha Biggers, American wrestler and model Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Christian Holst, Danish-Faroese footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1981 — Willy Taveras, Dominican baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1980 — Marcus Trufant, American football player Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Ferman Akgül, Turkish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Laurent Bonnart, French footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Robert Huff, English race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1979 — Hyun Young-min, South Korean footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Simon Jones, Welsh cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1978 — Joel Porter, Australian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Israel Vázquez, Mexican boxer Wikipedia ↗
• 1977 — Ali Tandoğan, Turkish footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Tuomas Holopainen, Finnish keyboard player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Tim James, American basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Atko Väikmeri, Estonian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1976 — Armin van Buuren, Dutch DJ and record producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Daniel Mustard, American singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Hideki Okajima, Japanese baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Choi Sung-yong, South Korean footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1975 — Marcus Trescothick, English cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Robbie Elliott, English footballer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Chris Harris, American wrestler Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Daisuke Miura, Japanese baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1973 — Alexandre Trudeau, Canadian journalist and director Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Mac Powell, American singer-songwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1972 — Qu Yunxia, Chinese runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Dido, English singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1971 — Justin Trudeau, Canadian educator and politician, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Emmanuel Amunike, Nigerian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1970 — Rodney Dent, American basketball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Nicolas Godin, French musician (Air) Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Noel Goldthorpe, Australian rugby league player Wikipedia ↗
• 1969 — Frederick Onyancha, Kenyan runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Helena Christensen, Danish model and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1968 — Jim Dowd, American ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1967 — Jason Thirsk, American bass player (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1966 — Toshi Arai, Japanese race car driver Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — Ed Davey, English politician, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Wikipedia ↗
• 1965 — David Rath, Czech physician and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Ian Bostridge, English tenor Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Gary McAllister, Scottish footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Kevin Simms, English rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1964 — Bob Stanley, English keyboard player, songwriter, producer, and journalist Wikipedia ↗
• 1961 — Íngrid Betancourt, Colombian political scientist and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Michael P. Anderson, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1959 — Ramdas Athawale, Indian poet and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Cheryl Chase, American voice actress and singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Hanford Dixon, American football player, coach, and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Rickey Henderson, American baseball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Konstantin Kinchev, Russian singer-songwriter and guitarist Wikipedia ↗
• 1958 — Alannah Myles, Canadian singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Mansoor Akhtar, Pakistani cricketer Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Chris Kamara, English footballer and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1957 — Shane MacGowan, English-Irish singer-songwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1954 — Annie Lennox, Scottish singer-songwriter and pianist Wikipedia ↗
• 1953 — Kaarlo Maaninka, Finnish runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — Tolossa Kotu, Ethiopian runner and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1952 — C. C. H. Pounder, Guyanese-American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Peter Boardman, English mountaineer and author (d. 1982) Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Karl Rove, American political strategist and activist Wikipedia ↗
• 1950 — Manny Trillo, Venezuelan baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, Brazilian singer Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani lawyer and politician, 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan Wikipedia ↗
• 1949 — Sissy Spacek, American actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Kay Hymowitz, American sociologist and writer Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Barbara Mandrell, American singer-songwriter and actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1948 — Joel Santana, Brazilian footballer and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Jimmy Buffett, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Larry Csonka, American football player and sportscaster Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Christopher Frayling, English author and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1946 — Gene Lamont, American baseball player and manager Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Rick Berman, American screenwriter and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Eve Pollard, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Mike Pringle, Zambian-Scottish lawyer and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Noel Redding, English singer-songwriter and bass player (d. 2003) Wikipedia ↗
• 1945 — Ken Stabler, American football player and sportscaster (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Kenny Everett, British comedian and radio and television host (d. 1995) Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Jairzinho, Brazilian footballer Wikipedia ↗
• 1944 — Sam Strahan, New Zealand rugby player Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Wilson Fittipaldi Júnior, Brazilian race car driver and businessman Wikipedia ↗
• 1943 — Hanna Schygulla, German actress Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Françoise Dürr, French tennis player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Barbara Follett, English politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Barry Goldberg, American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1942 — Enrique Morente, Spanish singer-songwriter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1941 — Kenneth Calman, Scottish physician and academic Wikipedia ↗
• 1940 — Hilary Spurling, English journalist and author Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistani businessman and politician Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Bob James, American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer Wikipedia ↗
• 1939 — Akong Rinpoche, Tibetan-Chinese spiritual leader (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Duane Armstrong, American painter Wikipedia ↗
• 1938 — Noel Picard, Canadian ice hockey player Wikipedia ↗
• 1937 — O'Kelly Isley Jr., American R&B/soul singer-songwriter (d. 1986) Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy Wikipedia ↗
• 1936 — Ismail Merchant, Indian-English director and producer (d. 2005) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Sadiq al-Mahdi, Sudanese politician, Prime Minister of Sudan Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Stephen Barnett, American scholar and academic (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1935 — Jeanne Hopkins Lucas, American educator and politician (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1933 — Basil Heatley, English runner Wikipedia ↗
• 1932 — Mabel King, American actress and singer (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Emmanuel Agassi, Iranian-American boxer and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1930 — Armenak Alachachian, Armenian basketball player and coach Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — Christine M. Jones, American educator and politician (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1929 — China Machado, Chinese-born Portuguese-American fashion model, editor and television producer (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1928 — Dick Miller, American actor, director, and screenwriter Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Nellie Fox, American baseball player and coach (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1927 — Leo Kubiak, American basketball and baseball player Wikipedia ↗
• 1926 — Enrique Jorrín, Cuban violinist and composer (d. 1987) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Carlos Castaneda, Peruvian-American anthropologist and author (d. 1998) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Ned Garver, American baseball player (d. 2017) Wikipedia ↗
• 1925 — Sam Pollock, Canadian businessman (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Rod Serling, American screenwriter and producer, created The Twilight Zone (d. 1975) Wikipedia ↗
• 1924 — Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian poet and politician, 10th Prime Minister of India Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — René Girard, French-American historian, philosopher, and critic (d. 2015) Wikipedia ↗
• 1923 — Louis Lane, American conductor and educator (d. 2016) Wikipedia ↗
• 1922 — William Demby, American author (d. 2013) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah, Indian-Pakistani journalist and author (d. 2000) Wikipedia ↗
• 1921 — Steve Otto, Polish-Canadian lawyer and politician (d. 1989) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Naushad Ali, Indian composer and director (d. 2006) Wikipedia ↗
• 1919 — Paul David, Canadian cardiologist and politician, founded the Montreal Heart Institute (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1918 — Anwar Sadat, Egyptian lieutenant and politician, 3rd President of Egypt, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1981) Wikipedia ↗
• 1917 — Lincoln Verduga Loor, Ecuadorian journalist and politician (d. 2009) Wikipedia ↗
• 1916 — Ahmed Ben Bella, Algerian soldier and politician, 1st President of Algeria (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1915 — Pete Rugolo, Italian-American composer and producer (d. 2011) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — James Fletcher Jnr, New Zealand businessman (d. 2007) Wikipedia ↗
• 1914 — Oscar Lewis, American anthropologist of Latin America (d. 1970) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Candy Candido, American singer, bass player, and voice actor (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗
• 1913 — Tony Martin, American singer (d. 2012) Wikipedia ↗
• 1911 — Louise Bourgeois, French-American sculptor and painter (d. 2010) Wikipedia ↗
• 1909 — Zora Arkus-Duntov, Belgian-American engineer (d. 1996) Wikipedia ↗
• 1908 — Quentin Crisp, English author and illustrator (d. 1999) Wikipedia ↗

📅 National Days on December 25 (Calendar.cx)

Also observed on December 25

🏛️ Public Holidays

US: Christmas Day Also in: Navidad (AR,CL,CO,MX) · 1. svátek vánoční (CZ) · Boże Narodzenie (pierwszy dzień) (PL) · Christmas (IN) · Christtag (AT) · Dia de Natal (PT) · Día de Navidad (VE) · Eerste Kerstdag (NL) · Erster Weihnachtstag (DE) · Første juledag (NO)

✡️ Religious Observances

• Christian: Christmas