On This Day - December 25th
Christmas is here!
Hopefully this morning you woke up to a tree-bottom full of presents, warm cocoa, and loved ones. And, as important as this special day is to many of us, we think it's important to know some of the many other things that make December 25th so special! Here are some things we think you should know.
On this day
It was the first ever Christmas
In the year 1, according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguus, today was the first-ever Christmas Day. The celebration goes all the way back to the year we stopped using BC dates – which makes sense, when you think about it!
William the Conqueror became King
In 1066, William the Conqueror was officially crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. In doing so, the Norman conquest of England came to an end. William’s reign would bring about much change to England, which included the introduction of French terms into their vocabulary!
The centigrade scale was introduced
In 1741, the Centigrade temperature scale was introduced. It was brought in by astronomer Anders Celsius – which explains why, in many cases, people refer to Celsius as the alternative to Fahrenheit instead!
Andrew Johnson issued pardons
In 1868, Then-US President Andrew Johnson granted unconditional pardons to all people involved in the Southern rebellion, i.e., the Civil War. Many were opposed to this decision – particularly as the conflicts had been bloody and many innocent people had lost their lives for what many believed to be very little reason.
Gorbachev stepped down
In 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev formally stepped down as President of the USSR. He did so publicly in a televised speech – which helped to pave the way for a new series of leaders, eventually culminating in Vladimir Putin.
Special Days Falling on December 25th
We know that you probably don't need us to tell you about a special event taking place today, as you're probably already busy with one. But, we would like to draw your attention to some of the other big events taking place around the world today.
GOAL Mile
Across the Republic of Ireland on December 25th, and indeed elsewhere in the world, GOAL Mile sees people taking up a mile run – though we think Boxing Day would perhaps be a better date for kicking off some weight loss! That said, today is a very important day for many Irish families, who find their get up and go on a day that’s typically associated with stuffing our faces!
Quaid-E-Azam
Over in Pakistan, citizens mark December 25th as Quaid-E-Azam, which celebrates the birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah – widely believed to be the founder of the modern country. Quaid-E-Azam actually translates as “Great Leader” – a fitting name, then, for someone who inspires Pakistan historians to this day. While others might be celebrating Christmas, this occasion alone gives the people of Pakistan something extra to hold parties for!
Mari Lwyd
Another Irish tradition today is Mari Lwyd. Mari Lwyd is celebrated from Christmas Day to the Twelfth Night after Christmas. It involves a singer in a horse costume, and an accompanying group of revellers, hoping to receive goodies! The horse is supposed to bring great fortune onto the premises, and tends to be a village favourite! No, we’re not making any of this up!
This page was last modified on August 4, 2024. Suggest an edit
This month in history
In 1814, the Ghent Treaty between the UK and America was signed, which brought an end to the war of 1812. However, as we all know, it wasn’t the first and certainly wasn’t the last war the British were involved in – though it was still an extremely important moment.
Famous Birthdays on December 25th
Dorothy Wordsworth, English poet, and diarist, born 1771
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistani founder and politician, born 1876
Humphrey Bogart, American actor, born 1899
Cab Calloway, American musician, born 1907
Dido, English musician, born 1971
If you were born on December 25th
…you’re a Capricorn! You’re loyal, funny, and can be very serious. You can pretty much adapt to whatever the situation needs.
Right now, the situation needs you to head over to our Capricorn facts page to learn more – and, commiserations for having a birthday on Christmas Day!
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