What Happened on December 25 in History?

While December 25 is globally recognized as Christmas, history shows it has also been a day for momentous coronations, scientific breakthroughs, and world-shifting political resignations.

Political & Military Milestones

• Coronation of Charlemagne (800 AD): Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king as the first Holy Roman Emperor in Rome, reviving the Western Roman Empire title.

• William the Conqueror (1066): After his victory at the Battle of Hastings, William was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, beginning Norman rule.

• Washington Crosses the Delaware (1776): General George Washington led 2,400 Continental Army troops across the icy river for a surprise Christmas night attack on Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey.

• Gorbachev Resigns (1991): Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as President of the Soviet Union, effectively marking the end of the Cold War and the formal dissolution of the USSR the following day.

• Romanian Revolution (1989): Deposed dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife were executed by firing squad after a summary trial during the popular uprising.

Scientific & Space Breakthroughs

• James Webb Space Telescope (2021): NASA successfully launched the most powerful infrared telescope into space from French Guiana, starting a new era in astronomy.

• First Abdominal Surgery (1809): American physician Ephraim McDowell performed the first recorded successful ovariotomy, removing a 22-pound tumor without anesthesia.

• Halley’s Comet Sighted (1758): Amateur astronomer Johann Georg Palitzsch confirmed Edmund Halley’s prediction by spotting the comet's return.

• Coldest Temperature (1989): Japanese scientists achieved -271.8°C, the coldest temperature ever recorded in a laboratory at that time.

Sports & Culture

• NFL's Longest Game (1971): The Miami Dolphins defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in a playoff game that lasted 82 minutes and 40 seconds of game time.

• World War I Christmas Truce (1914): Opposing British and German troops along the Western Front initiated an unofficial ceasefire to exchange gifts, sing carols, and even play football.

• "White Christmas" Debut (1941): Bing Crosby premiered the legendary song on his radio program The Kraft Music Hall.

Notable Births & Deaths

• Born: Physicist/mathematician/astronomer Isaac Newton (1642), actor Humphrey Bogart (1899), and singer Annie Lennox (1954).

• Died: Silent film icon Charlie Chaplin (1977), soul legend James Brown (2006), and pop star George Michael (2016).