Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243
2024
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of its occupants..
December-25
Historical Events on December 25
December
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James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope is launched.
2021
2020 Nashville bombing
An explosion in Nashville, Tennessee, occurs, leaving three civilians in the hospital.
2020
Typhoon Phanfone
Twenty people are killed and thousands are left homeless by Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines.
2019
Ministry of Defence (Russia)
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.
2016
Antonov An-72
2012
An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people..
Air Bagan Flight 011
Air Bagan Flight 011, a Fokker 100, crashes on approach to Heho Airport in Heho, Myanmar, killing two people.
2012
Siberian tiger
A Siberian tiger named Tatania escapes her exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo and attacks three people, killing one and injuring two more.
2007
Cassini–Huygens
The Cassini orbiter releases Huygens probe which successfully landed on Saturn's moon Titan on January 14, 2005.
2004
UTA Flight 141
UTA Flight 141, a Boeing 727-223, crashes at the Cotonou Airport in Benin, killing 141 people.
2003
Beagle 2
2003
The ill-fated Beagle 2 probe, released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19, stops transmitting shortly before its scheduled landing..
Cubana de Aviación Flight 310
Cubana de Aviación Flight 310, a Yakovlev Yak-42, crashes near Bejuma, Carabobo State, Venezuela, killing 22 people.
1999
Killing of JonBenét Ramsey
The body of American child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found in her family's Boulder, Colorado, home. Her murder remains unsolved.
1996
Mikhail Gorbachev
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.
1991
Romanian revolution
Romanian Revolution: Deposed President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are condemned to death and executed after a summary trial.
1989
Iraqi Airways Flight 163
1986
Iraqi Airways Flight 163, a Boeing 737-270C, is hijacked and crashes in Arar, Saudi Arabia, killing 63 people..
Menachem Begin
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meets in Egypt with its president Anwar Sadat.
1977
EgyptAir Flight 864
EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707-366C, crashes on approach to Don Mueang International Airport, killing 71 people.
1976
Apollo program
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.
1968
Kilvenmani massacre
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.
1968
Bayrak
1963
Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio begins transmitting in Cyprus after Turkish Cypriots are forcibly excluded from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation..
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union conducts its final above-ground nuclear weapon test, in anticipation of the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
1962
Murders of Harry and Harriette Moore
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.
1951
Stone of Scone
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.
1950
Nuclear chain reaction
The first European self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is initiated within the Soviet Union's F-1 nuclear reactor.
1946
Chester W. Nimitz
1941
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, appointed commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on December 17, arrives at Pearl Harbor..
World War II
World War II: Battle of Hong Kong ends, beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.
1941
Émile Muselier
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.
1941
1932 Changma earthquake
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China kills 275 people.
1932
B. R. Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar and his followers burn copies of the Manusmriti in Mahad, Maharashtra, to protest its treatment of Dalit people.
1927
National Protection War
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..
World War I
World War I: A series of unofficial truces occur across the Western Front to celebrate Christmas.
1914
Richard Wagner
Wagner's Siegfried Idyll is first performed.
1870
Pardons for ex-Confederates
Pardons for ex-Confederates: United States President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all Confederate veterans.
1868
Second Seminole War
Second Seminole War: American general Zachary Taylor leads 1,100 troops against the Seminoles at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee.
1837
Baptist War
1831
The Great Jamaican Slave Revolt begins; up to 20% of Jamaica's slaves mobilize in an ultimately unsuccessful fight for freedom..
Eggnog riot
The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy concludes after beginning the previous evening.
1826
Handel and Haydn Society
The Handel and Haydn Society, oldest continually performing arts organization in the United States, gives its first performance.
1815
Samuel Marsden
Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at Rangihoua Bay.
1814
Ephraim McDowell
Dr. Ephraim McDowell performs the first ovariotomy, removing a 22-pound tumor.
1809
Northwest Indian War
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..
American Revolutionary War
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.
1776
Mapuche
Mapuches in Chile launch a series of surprise attacks against the Spanish starting the Mapuche uprising of 1766.
1766
Halley's Comet
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.
1758
Johann Sebastian Bach
J. S. Bach leads the first performance of the Christmas cantata Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110, making laughter audible in singing.
1725
Johann Sebastian Bach
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..
Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV is elected, four months after his predecessor's death.
1559
Battle of Tucapel
Battle of Tucapel: Mapuche rebels under Lautaro defeat the Spanish conquistadors and executes the governor of Chile, Pedro de Valdivia.
1553
Carrack
The carrack Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, runs onto a reef off Haiti due to an improper watch.
1492
John IV Doukas Laskaris
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.
1261
Roger II of Sicily
1130
Count Roger II of Sicily is crowned the first king of Sicily..
Baldwin I of Jerusalem
Baldwin of Boulogne is crowned the first King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
1100
Bolesław II the Bold
Coronation of Bolesław II the Generous as king of Poland.
1076
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy is crowned king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London.
1066
Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement II.
1046
Mieszko II Lambert
1025
Coronation of Mieszko II Lambert as king of Poland..
Swein Forkbeard
Sweyn Forkbeard takes control of the Danelaw and is proclaimed king of England.
1013
AD 1000
The foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary: Hungary is established as a Christian kingdom by Stephen I of Hungary.
1000
Leo V the Armenian
Eastern Emperor Leo V is murdered in a church of the Great Palace of Constantinople by followers of Michael II.
820
Charlemagne
The coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor, in Rome.
800
Augustine of Canterbury
597
Augustine of Canterbury and his fellow-labourers baptise in Kent more than 10,000 Anglo-Saxons..
Clovis I
Clovis I, king of the Franks, is baptized into the Catholic faith at Reims, by Saint Remigius.
508
Vetranio
Vetranio meets Constantius II at Naissus (Serbia) and is forced to abdicate his imperial title. Constantius allows him to live as a private citizen on a state pension.
350
Christmas
First documented sign of Christmas celebration in Rome.
336
Constantine the Great
Roman Emperor Constantine the Great elevates his youngest son Constans to the rank of Caesar.
333
Temple of the Sun (Rome)
274
A temple to Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian..
AD 36
Forces of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han, under the command of Wu Han, conquer the separatist Chengjia empire, reuniting China.
36