A passenger attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on a flight to Detroit
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to ignite plastic explosives sewn into his underwear on Northwest Airlines Flight 253. The device failed to detonate p...
Historical Events
2009
2003
The Beagle 2 Mars lander successfully landed on Mars but failed to communicate
After a six-month journey, the British-led probe landed on Christmas Day but never made contact with Earth. Scientists believed it was lost forever un...
1991
Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union, ending 69 years of communist rule
MajorIn a televised address, Gorbachev announced his resignation and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The hammer and sickle flag was lowered from the K...
1968
Apollo 8 astronauts became the first humans to orbit the Moon
MajorFrank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders completed 10 lunar orbits on Christmas Day, taking the famous 'Earthrise' photograph. During a live broad...
1950
The Stone of Scone was stolen from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalists
Four students broke into the Abbey and removed the ancient coronation stone that had been taken from Scotland in 1296. During the heist, the 335-pound...
1914
British and German soldiers held an unofficial Christmas truce during World War I
Along the Western Front, enemies emerged from trenches to exchange gifts, sing carols, and even play football together. Soldiers traded cigarettes, ch...
1868
President Andrew Johnson granted unconditional amnesty to all Confederate soldiers
In his final presidential amnesty proclamation, Johnson pardoned all participants in the 'insurrection or rebellion' against the United States. This w...
1776
George Washington crossed the Delaware River in a surprise attack during the American Revolution
MajorOn Christmas night, Washington led 2,400 troops across the icy Delaware River to attack Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. The daring nighttime cr...
1758
Halley's Comet passed its perihelion, exactly as predicted by Edmund Halley
This was the first time a comet's return had been successfully predicted, appearing on Christmas night. Halley had died 16 years earlier, but his calc...
1643
Isaac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe, England
MajorBorn prematurely and not expected to survive, Newton would go on to revolutionize physics and mathematics. He developed calculus, discovered the laws...
1223
St. Francis of Assisi created the first nativity scene with live animals in Italy
Francis set up a manger with hay, an ox, and a donkey in a cave in Greccio to help people visualize the Christmas story. This living tableau was revol...
1066
William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey
MajorAfter defeating Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, William of Normandy was crowned on Christmas Day, fundamentally changing English history. The cor...
