December 25 in Pop Culture History |
December 25th is… A’Phabet Day or No “L” Day Christmas Pumpkin Pie Day |
0 (possibly 4 or 6 BC) – Jesus was born. 350 – Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ. 800 – Charlemagne was coronated as Holy Roman Emperor, in Rome. 1066 – William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, was crowned king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London. 1643 – Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean, was found and named by English Captain William Mynors. 1776 – George Washington led a successful raid on the Hessian/British troops in Trenton, NJ. There are reports that the usually stoic future president made a request of the big-boned General Harry Knox: “shift that fat ass Harry, but slowly, or you’ll swamp the damned boat.” 1809 – The first US ovariotomy (the surgical removal of an ovarian tumor) was performed by Dr. Ephraim McDowell, in Danville, KY. 1815 – The Handel and Haydn Society performed its first in Boston, MA. 1868 – US President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all Civil War Confederate soldiers and officers. 1914 – German and British soldiers stopped firing late Christmas Eve and started singing Christmas Carols. In the morning, they exited their trenches and walked towards the side of their enemies, shouting ‘Merry Christmas.’ Both sides stopped fighting, played football (soccer), and even exchanged token gifts. 1941 – Bing Crosby premiered White Christmas on his weekly radio show. 1962 – To Kill a Mockingbird, a film based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Harper Lee, opened in theaters. 1965 – #1 Hit December 25, 1965 – December 31, 1966: The Dave Clark Five – Over and Over 1971 – Longest Game in NFL History- The Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs in a AFC Divisional Playoff Game. 1971 – #1 Hit December 25, 1971 – January 14, 1972: Melanie – Brand New Key 1987 – Good Morning, Vietnam debuted in theaters. 1989 – Nicolae Ceaucescu, the last dictator of Romania, and his wife were executed by firing squad after a two-hour trial. 1990 – The Godfather Part III was released in theaters. 1992 – Chaplin and Hoffa were released in theaters. 1993 – #1 Hit December 25, 1993 – January 21, 1994: Mariah Carey – Hero 1993 – Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Grumpy Old Men were released in theaters. 1996 – JonBenet Ramsey was murdered in her home. 1998 – Mighty Joe Young was released in theaters. 1999 – Galaxy Quest and The Talented Mr. Ripley were released in theaters. 2001 – Kate and Leopold and Ali debuted in theaters. 2003 – Cheaper by the Dozen debuted in theaters. 2006 – (fictional) The Guinevere One probe was due to land on Mars, but went missing as the alien Sycorax invade Earth on TV’s Doctor Who episode ‘The Christmas Invasion’. 2007 – Aliens Vs. Predator – Requiem and The Bucket List debuted in theaters. 2008 – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Marley & Me, Valkyrie and Bedtime Stories debuted in theaters. 2009 – Sherlock Holmes and It’s Complicated were released in theaters. 2011 – War Horse was released in theaters. 2012 – Django Unchained, Les Miserables and Parental Guidance were released in theaters. 2013 – Lone Survivor, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Grudge Match and 47 Ronin were released in theaters. 2014 – The Interview, Selma, Unbroken, Into the Woods and American Sniper were released in theaters. 2021 – #1 Hit December 25, 2021 – January 14, 2022: All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey |