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

1Charlemagne was crowned emperor.

On Christmas Day 800, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks, as Emperor of the Romans in St Peter’s Basilica, the first emperor in western Europe since the fall of Rome.

2William the Conqueror was crowned.

On Christmas Day 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. Rebellions continued for years, and William’s rule brought Norman French into the English language.

3Celsius's temperature scale was first used.

On 25 December 1741, Anders Celsius’s new temperature scale was first used at Uppsala in Sweden. Oddly, Celsius set 0 as the boiling point of water and 100 as freezing; the scale was turned the other way round after his death.

4Andrew 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.

5Mikhail Gorbachev resigned.

On 25 December 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as President of the Soviet Union in a televised speech. The Soviet flag was lowered over the Kremlin that evening, and the USSR was formally dissolved the next day.

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

In parts of Wales, the Mari Lwyd, a horse’s skull on a pole carried by a person under a sheet, is taken from door to door between Christmas and Twelfth Night, with singers challenging households to a battle of rhymes.

This month in history

The last people walked on the Moon. On 14 December 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt left the Moon’s surface. No one has been back since.

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!