Osun Defender History Corner: December 25 In Focus

Today, on the history corner, we take a trip in the realm of flashback and recall some events that marked this day.

December 25, 336 AD

The earliest recorded celebration of Christmas on December 25, marking the birth of Jesus Christ, began during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine.

December 25, 800 AD

Charlemagne, the King of the Franks, was crowned as the first Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day.

December 25, 1066

William the Conqueror was crowned King of England on Christmas Day.

December 25, 1492

Christopher Columbus and his expedition landed in present-day Haiti on Christmas Day.

December 25, 1776

During the American Revolution, George Washington and his troops crossed the ice-filled Delaware River on Christmas night, surprising and defeating the Hessian forces in the Battle of Trenton the following day.

December 25, 1814

The Treaty of Ghent was signed, officially ending the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom.

December 25, 1868

President Andrew Johnson granted unconditional pardons to all Confederate veterans on Christmas Day.

December 25, 1914

During World War I, an unofficial truce occurred on the Western Front, where soldiers from both sides temporarily ceased hostilities, exchanged gifts, and even played football in no man’s land.

December 25, 1941

The HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk by Japanese forces off the coast of Malaya during World War II.

December 25, 1968

The Apollo 8 mission became the first manned spacecraft to orbit the Moon on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

December 25, 1991

Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the President of the Soviet Union, leading to its dissolution the next day.

December 25, 2004

A massive earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, triggering a tsunami that devastated coastal areas in several countries around the Indian Ocean.

December 25, 2010

A Nigerian man attempted to bomb a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

December 25, 2011

Kim Jong-il, the leader of North Korea, died on December 17, but the news was officially announced on Christmas Day.

December 25, 2013

Pope Francis delivered his first Christmas message as the Pope, emphasizing the importance of humility and compassion.

December 25, 2014

U.S. President Barack Obama and his family attended Christmas services at a Marine Corps base in Hawaii.

December 25, 2016

Singer George Michael passed away on Christmas Day.

December 25, 2018

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq on Christmas Day.

December 25, 2019

An explosion in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, damaged numerous buildings and disrupted telecommunication systems on Christmas morning.

December 25, 2020

The United Kingdom and the European Union reached a post-Brexit trade agreement on Christmas Eve, just days before the transition period was set to end.

Please note that these are just a few historical events that happened on December 25. History is full of numerous other significant events on this day, ranging from politics and warfare to cultural and scientific milestones.