Discover · History

On this day — December 25

A hand-curated thread of what happened on this date, across centuries.

Observed today

Public holiday

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is observed in Canada. Recognized nationally.

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Public holiday

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is observed in Mexico (Navidad). Recognized nationally.

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Public holiday

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is observed in United States. Recognized nationally.

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2024

Sport

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashes in Aktau

Kazakhstan, killing 38 of its occupants.

2021

Science

The James Webb Space Telescope is launched.

2020

Milestone

An explosion in Nashville

Tennessee, occurs, leaving three civilians in the hospital.

2019

Milestone

Twenty people are killed and thousands are left homeless by Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines.

2016

Milestone

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.

2012

Milestone

An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent

killing 27 people.

2012

Milestone

Air Bagan Flight 011

a Fokker 100, crashes on approach to Heho Airport in Heho, Myanmar, killing two people.

2007

Milestone

A Siberian tiger named Tatania escapes her exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo and attacks three people

killing one and injuring two more.

2004

Milestone

The Cassini orbiter releases Huygens probe which successfully landed on Saturn's moon Titan on January 14

2005.

2003

Milestone

UTA Flight 141

a Boeing 727-223, crashes at the Cotonou Airport in Benin, killing 141 people.

2003

Milestone

The ill-fated Beagle 2 probe

released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19, stops transmitting shortly before its scheduled landing.

1999

Milestone

Cubana de Aviación Flight 310

a Yakovlev Yak-42, crashes near Bejuma, Carabobo State, Venezuela, killing 22 people.

1996

Milestone

The body of American child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found in her family's Boulder, Colorado, home

Her murder remains unsolved.

1991

Politics

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.

1989

Politics

Romanian Revolution

Deposed President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are condemned to death and executed after a summary trial.