:December 25
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{{This date in recent years}}
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Events
=Pre-1600=
- 36 – Forces of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han, under the command of Wu Han, conquer the separatist Chengjia empire, reuniting China.{{Cite book |last1=Twitchett |first1=Denis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A2HKxK5N2sAC&pg=PA255 |title=The Cambridge History of China: Volume 1, The Ch'in and Han Empires, 221 BC – AD 220 |last2=Fairbank |first2=John King |last3=Loewe |first3=Michael |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1978 |isbn=978-0-521-24327-8 |page=255}}
- 274 – A temple to Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian.{{Cite book |last=Clauss |first=Manfred |title=Die römischen Kaiser - 55 historische Portraits von Caesar bis Iustinian |publisher=C.H.Beck |year=2001 |isbn=978-3-406-47288-6 |page=250}}
- 333 – Roman Emperor Constantine the Great elevates his youngest son Constans to the rank of Caesar.{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=A.H.M. |url={{googlebooks|uOHw4idqAeYC|plainurl=y}} |title=The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Volume 1: A.D. 260–395 |last2=J.R. Martindale |last3=J. Morris |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1971 |isbn=0-521-07233-6 |page=220 |author-link=A. H. M. Jones |author-link2=John Robert Martindale |author-link3=John Morris (historian) |name-list-style=amp}}
- 336 – First documentary sign of Christmas celebration in Rome.{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2002 |title=Christmas and its cycle |encyclopedia=New Catholic Encyclopedia |publisher=Catholic University of America Press |edition=2nd |volume=3 |pages=551}}
- 350 – Vetranio meets Constantius II at Naissus (Serbia) and is forced to abdicate his imperial title. Constantius allows him to live as a private citizen on a state pension.{{Cite book |last=Syvanne |first=Ikka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P6SgCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA323 |title=Military History of Late Rome |publisher=Pen and Sword |year=2015 |isbn=9781848848559 |page=323}}
- 508 – Clovis I, king of the Franks, is baptized into the Catholic faith at Reims, by Saint Remigius.{{Cite journal |last=Danuta |first=Shanzer |date=March 1998 |title=Dating the baptism of Clovis: the bishop of Vienne vs the bishop of Tours |journal=Early Medieval Europe |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=29–57 |doi=10.1111/1468-0254.00017 |s2cid=161819012}}
- 597 – Augustine of Canterbury and his fellow-labourers baptise in Kent more than 10,000 Anglo-Saxons.
- 800 – The coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor, in Rome.{{Cite CE1913|wstitle=Charlemagne|author=Thomas Joseph Shahan & Ewan Macpherson}}
- 820 – Eastern Emperor Leo V is murdered in a church{{Cite book |last=Lidov |first=Alexei |url=https://brill.com/view/title/21422 |title=Jerusalem as Narrative Space / Erzählraum Jerusalem |date=2012-10-19 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-22625-8 |editor-last=Hoffmann |editor-first=Annette |series=Visualising the Middle Ages |volume=6 |location=Leiden-Boston |page=66 |chapter=A Byzantine Jerusalem. The Imperial Pharos Chapel as the Holy Sepulchre |author-link=Alexei Lidov |editor-last2=Wolf |editor-first2=Gerhard |chapter-url=http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/3595/1/Lidov_A_Byzantine_Jerusalem_The_Imperial_Pharos_Chapel_2012.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115175252/http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/3595/1/Lidov_A_Byzantine_Jerusalem_The_Imperial_Pharos_Chapel_2012.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-15 |url-status=live |name-list-style=amp}} of the Great Palace of Constantinople by followers of Michael II.{{Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium|page=1210}}
- 1000 – The foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary: Hungary is established as a Christian kingdom by Stephen I of Hungary.{{Cite book |last=Engel |first=Pál |title=The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary, 895–1526 |publisher=I.B. Tauris Publishers |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-86064-061-2 |page=27 |author-link=Pál Engel}}
- 1013 – Sweyn Forkbeard takes control of the Danelaw and is proclaimed king of England.{{Cite book |last=James |first=Panton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BiyyueBTpaMC&pg=PA470 |title=Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780810874978 |page=470}}
- 1025 – Coronation of Mieszko II Lambert as king of Poland.
- 1046 – Henry III is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement II.{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pope Clement II |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04017a.htm |website=www.newadvent.org |quote=He was enthroned in St. Peter's on Christmas Day and took the name of Clement II. .... His first pontifical act was to place the imperial crown upon his benefactor and the queen-consort, Agnes of Aquitaine. The new emperor received from the Romans and the pope the title and diadem of a Roman Patricius...}}
- 1066 – William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy is crowned king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London.{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Kevin |date=22 December 2016 |title=How William the Conqueror spent Christmas in 1066 |url=http://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/how-william-the-conqueror-spent-christmas-in-1066/ |access-date=24 December 2020 |website=English Heritage Blog}}
- 1076 – Coronation of Bolesław II the Generous as king of Poland.
- 1100 – Baldwin of Boulogne is crowned the first King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.{{Cite book |last=Murray |first=Alan V. |title=The Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: A Dynastic History, 1099–1125 |publisher=Prosopographica et Geneologica |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-9009-3403-9 |page=96}}
- 1130 – Count Roger II of Sicily is crowned the first king of Sicily.{{Cite web |title=Roger II {{!}} Facts & Biography |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roger-II |access-date=14 July 2020 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}
- 1261 – Eleven-year-old John IV Laskaris of the restored Eastern Roman Empire is deposed and blinded by orders of his co-ruler Michael VIII Palaiologos.{{Cite book |last=Korobeinikov |first=Dimitri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCXRCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA237 |title=Byzantium and the Turks in the Thirteenth Century |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2014 |isbn=9780191017940 |page=237}}
- 1492 – The carrack Santa María, commanded by Christopher Columbus, runs onto a reef off Haiti due to an improper watch.{{Cite book |last1=Columbus |first1=Christopher |url=https://archive.org/details/cihm_05312/page/133/ |title=The life of Christopher Columbus, from his own letters and journals and other documents of his time |last2=Hale |first2=Edward Everett |publisher=G.L. Howe & Co. |year=1891 |isbn=9780665053122 |location=Chicago |page=133 |author-link=Christopher Columbus |author-link2=Edward Everett Hale}}
- 1553 – Battle of Tucapel: Mapuche rebels under Lautaro defeat the Spanish conquistadors and executes the governor of Chile, Pedro de Valdivia.
- 1559 – Pope Pius IV is elected, four months after his predecessor's death.{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Pius IV |encyclopedia=Britannica Online |date=5 December 2023 |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pius-IV}}
=1601–1900=
- 1724 – J. S. Bach leads the first performance of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, in Leipzig, based on Luther's 1524 Christmas hymn.{{cite web|url=https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000115?lang=en|title=Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ [later version] BWV 91.2; BWV 91; BC A 9b|website=Bach Digital|year=2024|access-date=2024-12-13}}
- 1758 – Halley's Comet is sighted by Johann Georg Palitzsch, confirming Edmund Halley's prediction of its passage. This was the first passage of a comet predicted ahead of time.{{Cite web |title=Messier's "Notes on my comets" |url=http://www.messier.seds.org/xtra/history/notes-c.html |quote=It was discovered, [...] at Aprohlis, near Dresden, by a farmer named Palitzsch, on the 25th of December 1758[...]}}
- 1766 – Mapuches in Chile launch a series of surprise attacks against the Spanish starting the Mapuche uprising of 1766.{{Cite book |last=Barros Arana |first=Diego |url=http://www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-9008.html |title=Historia General de Chile |publisher=Editorial Universitaria |year=2000 |edition=2 |volume=VI |location=Santiago, Chile |page=235 |language=es |author-link=Diego Barros Arana |orig-year=1886}}
- 1776 – American Revolutionary War: General George Washington and the Continental Army cross the Delaware River at night to attack Hessian forces serving Great Britain at Trenton, New Jersey, the next day.{{Cite web |title=Washington Crossing Historic Park |url=http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330060254/http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/ |archive-date=2010-03-30 |access-date=2010-01-27 |publisher=Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission}}
- 1793 – Northwest Indian War: General "Mad Anthony" Wayne and a 300 man detachment identify the site of St. Clair's 1791 defeat by the large number of unburied human remains at modern Fort Recovery, Ohio.{{Cite web |date=31 January 2021 |title=Corps of Discovery. United States Army. |url=https://history.army.mil/LC/The%20People/Frontier.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102142456/http://www.history.army.mil/LC/The%20People/Frontier.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |access-date=2 July 2021 |website=U.S. Army Center of Military History}}
- 1809 – Dr. Ephraim McDowell performs the first ovariotomy, removing a 22-pound tumor.{{Cite journal |last=Cirocco |first=WC |date=March 2019 |title=The Christmas miracle of 1809: How a "backwoodsman without a diploma to practice" became the father of abdominal surgery. |url=https://www.americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(18)31710-0/fulltext |journal=American Journal of Surgery |volume=217 |issue=3 |pages=578–589 |doi=10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.01.003 |pmid=30670290 |s2cid=58947639 |access-date=23 December 2020}}
- 1814 – Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at Rangihoua Bay.{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Story: Missions and missionaries |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/missions-and-missionaries/page-2 |access-date=6 September 2021}}
- 1815 – The Handel and Haydn Society, oldest continually performing arts organization in the United States, gives its first performance.
- 1826 – The Eggnog Riot at the United States Military Academy concludes after beginning the previous evening.
- 1831 – The Great Jamaican Slave Revolt begins; up to 20% of Jamaica's slaves mobilize in an ultimately unsuccessful fight for freedom.{{Cite book |last=Turner |first=Mary |title=Slaves and Missionaries |date=1998 |publisher=Press University of the West Indies |isbn=9789766400453 |page=154}}
- 1837 – Second Seminole War: American general Zachary Taylor leads 1,100 troops against the Seminoles at the Battle of Lake Okeechobee.{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=William Loren |title=Resistance To US Occupation, Florida, 1837 |url=http://www.williamlkatz.com/Essays/CurrentEvents/FloridaResistance.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026144304/http://www.williamlkatz.com/Essays/CurrentEvents/FloridaResistance.php |archive-date=26 October 2007 |access-date=September 6, 2021}}
- 1868 – Pardons for ex-Confederates: United States President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all Confederate veterans.{{Cite book |last1=Randall |first1=J. G.|title=The Civil War and Reconstruction |last2=Donald |first2=David |date=1966 |publisher=D.C. Heath and Company |edition=2nd |pages=560{{hyphen}}561}}
- 1870 – Wagner's Siegfried Idyll is first performed.{{cite web|url=http://francisbarnhart.com/projects/siegfried-idyll/|url-status=dead|title=The Siegfried Idyll: Jewel of the Wagner Romance|first=Francis|last=Barnhart|website=francisbarnhart.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211050734/http://francisbarnhart.com/projects/siegfried-idyll/|archive-date=2007-12-11|accessdate=2024-12-20|via=Wayback Machine}}
=1901–present=
- 1914 – World War I: A series of unofficial truces occur across the Western Front to celebrate Christmas.{{Cite book |last=Ashworth |first=Tony |title=Trench Warfare 1914–1918: The Live-and-Let-Live System |publisher=Pan |year=2000 |isbn=0330480685 |location=London}}
- 1915 – The National Protection War breaks out against the Empire of China, as military leaders Cai E and Tang Jiyao proclaim the independence of Yunnan and begin a campaign to restore the Republic.{{Cite book |last=Ke-wen Wang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j5irhLHE6gUC&q=tang+jiyao&pg=PA230 |title=Modern China: an encyclopedia of history, culture, and nationalism |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1998 |isbn=0-8153-0720-9 |page=230 |access-date=2010-10-31}}
- 1927 – B. R. Ambedkar and his followers burn copies of the Manusmriti in Mahad, Maharashtra, to protest its treatment of Dalit people.{{Cite web |last=Sofia Babu |year=2020 |title=25th December 1927, Manusmriti Dahan Divas: A historical day to remember |url=https://english.madhyamam.com/india/25th-december-1927-manusmriti-dahan-divas-a-historical-day-to-remember-624232 |access-date=14 December 2021}}
- 1932 – A magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Gansu, China kills 275 people.{{cite web|url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/3507|title=Significant Earthquake Information|last=National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information|year=1972 |publisher=NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information|doi=10.7289/V5TD9V7K}}
- 1941 – Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, appointed commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on December 17,{{Cite book |last=Hoyt |first=Edwin P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z1JBBAAAQBAJ |title=How They Won the War in the Pacific: Nimitz and His Admirals |date=2012 |publisher=Lyons Press |isbn=9780762772858 |location=Guilford, Conn. |page=25}} arrives at Pearl Harbor.{{Cite book |last=Weintraub |first=Stanley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bgABAwAAQBAJ |title=Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941 |date=2011 |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=9780306820618 |location=Cambridge, Mass. |page=99}}
- 1941 – World War II: Battle of Hong Kong ends, beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.{{Cite news |date=8 December 2008 |title=Hong Kong's "Black Christmas" |work=China Daily |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-12/08/content_7279606.htm |access-date=7 September 2021}}
- 1941 – Admiral Émile Muselier seizes the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which become the first part of France to be liberated by the Free French Forces.{{Cite journal |title=University of New Brunswick {{!}} UNB Canadian Military Planning and the St. Pierre and Miquelon Affair, 1940 |journal=Acadiensis |date=9 September 2003 |pages=47 |url=https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/acadiensis/article/view/10684/11369 |last1=Auger |first1=Martin F. }}
- 1946 – The first European self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is initiated within the Soviet Union's F-1 nuclear reactor.{{Cite web |title=The World's Oldest Operating Reactor: The Russian F-1 |url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Russia/Russreac.html |access-date=7 September 2021 |website=The Nuclear Weapon Archive}}
- 1950 – The Stone of Scone, traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, is taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students. It later turns up in Scotland on April 11, 1951.{{Cite news |date=29 March 2004 |title=Defining our destiny |work=The Scotsman |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/defining-our-destiny-1-519098 |url-status=dead |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227073141/http://www.scotsman.com/news/defining-our-destiny-1-519098 |archive-date=27 December 2013}}
- 1951 – A bomb explodes at the home of Harry T. Moore and Harriette V. S. Moore, early leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, killing Harry instantly and fatally wounding Harriette.{{Cite web |last=Crist |first=Charlie |date=2006-08-16 |title=The Christmas 1951 Murders of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore; Results of the Attorney General's Investigation: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY |url=https://www.nbbd.com/godo/moore/investigation/0608MooreExecSum.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061113223626/http://www.nbbd.com/godo/moore/investigation/0608MooreExecSum.pdf |archive-date=2006-11-13 |access-date=2018-02-27}}
- 1962 – The Soviet Union conducts its final above-ground nuclear weapon test, in anticipation of the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
- 1963 – Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio begins transmitting in Cyprus after Turkish Cypriots are forcibly excluded from Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.
- 1968 – Apollo program: Apollo 8 performs the first successful Trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver, sending the crew and spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth from Lunar orbit.{{Cite book |last=Orloff |first=Richard W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U1QgAAAAIAAJ |title=Apollo by the Numbers |date=2000 |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration |isbn=9780160506314 |page=39}}
- 1968 – Kilvenmani massacre: Forty-four Dalits (untouchables) are burnt to death in Kizhavenmani village, Tamil Nadu, a retaliation for a campaign for higher wages by Dalit laborers.{{Cite news |last=Manikandan |first=M |date=24 December 2017 |title=Fire of 1968 still burning inside |work=The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/dec/24/fire-of-1968-still-burning-inside-1735689.html |access-date=7 September 2021}}
- 1976 – EgyptAir Flight 864, a Boeing 707-366C, crashes on approach to Don Mueang International Airport, killing 71 people.{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-366C SU-AXA Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport (BKK) |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19761225-0 |access-date=2019-12-23 |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
- 1977 – Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin meets in Egypt with its president Anwar Sadat.
- 1986 – Iraqi Airways Flight 163, a Boeing 737-270C, is hijacked and crashes in Arar, Saudi Arabia, killing 63 people.{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-270C YI-AGJ Arar |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19861225-1 |access-date=2020-10-25 |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
- 1989 – Romanian Revolution: Deposed President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena, are condemned to death and executed after a summary trial.{{Cite news |last=Boyes |first=Roger |date=24 December 2009 |title=Ceausescu looked in my eyes and he knew that he was going to die |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6967099.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604155855/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6967099.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-access=subscription |access-date=7 September 2021}}
- 1991 – 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.{{Cite book |last=Taubman |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iNDADQAAQBAJ |title=Gorbachev: His Life and Times |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2017 |isbn=978-1471147968 |location=New York City |page=638}}
- 1996 – The body of American child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey was found in her family's Boulder, Colorado, home. Her murder remains unsolved.{{cite web | url=https://www.denverpost.com/1996/08/13/text-of-jonbenet-autopsy-report/ | title=Text of JonBenét autopsy report | date=December 27, 1996 | publisher=Office of the Boulder County Coroner | access-date=September 9, 2021 | archive-date=October 23, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023182740/https://www.denverpost.com/1996/08/13/text-of-jonbenet-autopsy-report/ | url-status=live }}
- 1999 – Cubana de Aviación Flight 310, a Yakovlev Yak-42, crashes near Bejuma, Carabobo State, Venezuela, killing 22 people.{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ASN Aircraft accident Yakovlev Yak-42D CU-T1285 Bejuma |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19991225-1 |access-date=2020-12-24 |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
- 2003 – UTA Flight 141, a Boeing 727-223, crashes at the Cotonou Airport in Benin, killing 141 people.{{Cite web |title=Final report Accident on 25 December 2003 at Cotonou Cadjèhoun aerodrome (Benin) to the Boeing 727-223 registered 3X-GDO operated by UTA (Union des Transports Africains) |url=http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/3x-o031225a/pdf/3x-o031225a.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721063823/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/3x-o031225a/pdf/3x-o031225a.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21 |access-date=7 September 2021 |website=www.bea.aero |publisher=Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile}}
- 2003 – The ill-fated Beagle 2 probe, released from the Mars Express spacecraft on December 19, stops transmitting shortly before its scheduled landing.{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stuart |date=17 January 2015 |title=Beagle 2 spacecraft found intact on surface of Mars after 11 years |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/16/lost-beagle-2-spacecraft-found-mars |access-date=7 September 2021}}
- 2004 – The Cassini orbiter releases Huygens probe which successfully landed on Saturn's moon Titan on January 14, 2005.
- 2012 – An Antonov An-72 plane crashes close to the city of Shymkent, killing 27 people.{{Cite web |title=Accident description |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20121225-1 |access-date=7 September 2021 |publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}{{Cite web |date=26 December 2012 |title=Kazakhstan military plane crash 'kills 27' near Shymkent |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20842116 |access-date=7 September 2021 |publisher=BBC News}}
- 2012 – Air Bagan Flight 011, a Fokker 100, crashes on approach to Heho Airport in Heho, Myanmar, killing two people.{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ASN Aircraft accident Fokker 100 XY-AGC Heho Airport (HEH) |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20121225-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227225233/http://aviation-safety.net:80/database/record.php?id=20121225-0 |archive-date=2012-12-27 |access-date=2021-12-22 |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
- 2016 – 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.{{Cite web |title=Accident description |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20161225-0 |access-date=7 September 2021 |publisher=Aviation Safety Network}}
- 2019 – Twenty people are killed and thousands are left homeless by Typhoon Phanfone in the Philippines.{{Cite web |last=Jim Gomez |date=Dec 26, 2019 |title=Christmas Typhoon Leaves 20 Dead In Philippines |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/christmas-typhoon-leaves-20-dead-in-philippines_n_5e04af58e4b0843d3603b4bf |website=HuffPost}}
- 2020 – An explosion in Nashville, Tennessee, occurs, leaving three civilians in the hospital.{{Cite web |title=Police believe RV explosion on Second Avenue North 'an intentional act' |url=https://www.wsmv.com/news/police-believe-rv-explosion-on-second-avenue-north-an-intentional-act/article_c2c94818-46b2-11eb-acf2-23716d723233.html?block_id=998328 |access-date=December 25, 2020}}
- 2021 – The James Webb Space Telescope is launched.{{Cite web |title=Ariane Flight VA256 - Arianespace |url=https://www.arianespace.com/mission/ariane-flight-va256/ |access-date=26 December 2021 |website=Arianespace}}
- 2024 – Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashes in Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 of its occupants.{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes near Kazakhstan's Aktau airport |url=https://news.sky.com/story/azerbaijan-airlines-crashes-near-kazakhstans-aktau-airport-13279720 |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=Sky News |language=en}}
Births
=Pre-1600=
- 1250 – John IV Laskaris, Byzantine emperor (d. 1305)
- 1281 – Alice de Lacy, 4th Countess of Lincoln (d. 1348)
- 1400 – John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (d. 1487)
- 1424 – Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France (d. 1445)
- 1461 – Christina of Saxony, Queen consort of Denmark (d. 1521)
- 1490 – Francesco Marinoni, Italian Roman Catholic priest (d. 1562)
- 1493 – Antoinette de Bourbon, French noblewoman (d. 1583)
- 1505 – Christine of Saxony, German noblewoman (d. 1549)
- 1564 – Johannes Buxtorf, German Calvinist theologian (d. 1629)
- 1583 – Orlando Gibbons, English organist and composer (d. 1625)
- 1584 – Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain (d. 1611)
=1601–1900=
- 1601 – Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha (d. 1675)
- 1628 – Noël Coypel, French painter and educator (d. 1707){{cite journal |last1=Klingsöhr-Leroy |first1=Cathrin |title=Coypel, Noël |journal=Oxford Art Online |date=2003 |doi=10.1093/oao/9781884446054.013.90000369637|isbn=978-1-884446-05-4 }}
- 1642 – Isaac Newton, English physicist and mathematician (d. 1727){{cite book |last1=Kollerstrom |first1=Nicholas |chapter=Newton, Isaac |title=The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers |date=2007 |pages=830–832 |doi=10.1007/978-0-387-30400-7_1008|isbn=978-0-387-31022-0 }}
- 1652 – Archibald Pitcairne, Scottish physician, anatomist, and scholar (d. 1713)
- 1665 – Lady Grizel Baillie, Scottish-English poet and songwriter (d. 1746)
- 1674 – Thomas Halyburton, Scottish minister and theologian (d. 1712)
- 1686 – Giovanni Battista Somis, Italian violinist and composer (d. 1763){{cite Grove |last1=Basso |first1=Alberto |title=Somis, Giovanni Battista |date=2001 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.26178}}
- 1700 – Leopold II, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (d. 1758)
- 1711 – Jean-Joseph de Mondonville, French violinist and composer (d. 1772){{cite Grove |last1=Signorile |first1=Marc |title=Mondonville, Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de |date=2001 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.18945}}
- 1716 – Johann Jakob Reiske, German physician and scholar (d. 1774)
- 1717 – Pope Pius VI (d. 1799){{Cite web |title=Pius VI {{!}} pope |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pius-VI |access-date=10 December 2020 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}
- 1728 – Johann Adam Hiller, German composer and conductor (d. 1804){{cite Grove |last1=Abert |first1=Anna Amalie |last2=Bauman |first2=Thomas |title=Hiller, Johann Adam |date=2001 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.13043}}
- 1730 – Filippo Mazzei, Italian-American physician and philosopher (d. 1816){{cite ANB |last1=Idzerda |first1=Stanley J. |title=Mazzei, Philip (1730-1816), physician, merchant, and agent of Virginia during the American Revolution |date=February 2000 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0300595}}
- 1745 – Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Caribbean-French violinist, composer, and conductor (d. 1799){{cite Grove |last1=Banat |first1=Gabriel |title=Saint-Georges [Saint-George], Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de |date=2001 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.24316}}
- 1757 – Benjamin Pierce, American general and politician, 17th Governor of New Hampshire (d. 1839){{cite ANB |last1=Lowery |first1=Charles D. |title=Pierce, Benjamin (1757-1839), governor of New Hampshire |date=February 2000 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0300382}}
- 1766 – Christmas Evans, Welsh Nonconformist preacher (d. 1838)
- 1771 – Dorothy Wordsworth, English diarist and poet (d. 1855)
- 1776 – Sydney, Lady Morgan, Irish author and poet (d. 1859)
- 1810 – L. L. Langstroth, American apiarist, clergyman and teacher (d. 1895){{cite ANB |last1=Lach, Jr. |first1=Edward L. |title=Langstroth, Lorenzo Lorraine (1810-1895), minister and apiarist |date=January 2001 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1300948}}
- 1821 – Clara Barton, American nurse and humanitarian, founder of the American Red Cross (d. 1912){{cite ANB |last1=Pryor |first1=Elizabeth B. |title=Barton, Clara (1821-1912), philanthropist |date=February 2000 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1200054}}
- 1825 – Stephen F. Chadwick, American lawyer and politician, 5th Governor of Oregon (d. 1895)
- 1829 – Patrick Gilmore, Irish-American composer and bandleader (d. 1892){{cite Grove |last1=Cipolla |first1=Frank J. |title=Gilmore, Patrick S(arsfield) |date=2001 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.11152}}
- 1856 – Pud Galvin, American baseball player and manager (d. 1902)
- 1861 – Francis Henry Buzzacott, American hunter, explorer and army scout famous for writing Buzzacott's Masterpiece (d. 1947)[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t04x5xg0p&seq=8 Buzzacott's Masterpiece]
- 1861 – Madan Mohan Malaviya, Indian educator, lawyer, and politician, President of the Indian National Congress (d. 1946)
- 1865 – Evangeline Booth, English 4th General of The Salvation Army (d. 1950)
- 1869 – Charles Finger, English-American journalist and author (d. 1941)
- 1872 – Helena Rubinstein, Polish-American businesswoman and philanthropist (d. 1965)
- 1873 – Otto Frederick Hunziker, Swiss-American agriculturalist and educator (d. 1959)
- 1874 – Lina Cavalieri, Italian soprano and actress (d. 1944){{cite Grove |last1=Celletti |first1=Rodolfo |last2=Gualerzi |first2=Valeria Pregliasco |title=Cavalieri, Lina |date=2001 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05203}}
- 1875 – Francis Aveling, Canadian psychologist and priest (d. 1941)
- 1875 – Theodor Innitzer, Austrian cardinal (d. 1955)
- 1876 – Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Indian-Pakistani lawyer and politician, 1st Governor-General of Pakistan (d. 1948)
- 1876 – Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1959)
- 1878 – Louis Chevrolet, American race car driver and businessman, co-founded Chevrolet (d. 1941)
- 1878 – Noël, Countess of Rothes, British philanthropist, social leader and heroine of Titanic disaster (d. 1956)
- 1878 – Joseph M. Schenck, Russian-American film producer (d. 1961){{cite ANB |last1=Gomery |first1=Douglas |title=Schenck, Joseph M. (1877-1961), motion picture executive |date=February 2000 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1801925}}
- 1883 – Hugo Bergmann, Czech-Israeli philosopher and academic (d. 1975)
- 1883 – Hana Meisel, Belarusian-Israeli agronomist and politician (d. 1972)
- 1884 – Samuel Berger, American boxer (d. 1925)
- 1884 – Evelyn Nesbit, American model and actress (d. 1967){{cite ANB |last1=Cardyn |first1=Lisa |title=Nesbit, Evelyn Florence (1884-1967), model and showgirl |date=February 2000 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1803290}}
- 1886 – Malak Hifni Nasif, Egyptian poet and activist (d. 1918)
- 1886 – Kid Ory, American trombonist and bandleader (d. 1973)
- 1887 – Conrad Hilton, American entrepreneur (d. 1979){{cite ANB |last1=Lach, Jr. |first1=Edward L. |title=Hilton, Conrad (25 December 1887–03 January 1979), businessman |date=1999 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1001964}}
- 1889 – Lila Bell Wallace, American publisher and philanthropist, co-founded Reader's Digest (d. 1984){{cite ANB |last1=Reuss |first1=Carol |title=Wallace, Lila Bell Acheson (25 December 1889–08 May 1984), cofounder and co-owner of the Reader's Digest and philanthropist |date=February 2000 |doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1602750}}
- 1890 – Noel Odell, English geologist and mountaineer (d. 1987)
- 1891 – Kenneth Anderson, Indian-English general and politician, Governor of Gibraltar (d. 1959)
- 1891 – Clarrie Grimmett, New Zealand-Australian cricketer (d. 1980)
- 1899 – Humphrey Bogart, American actor (d. 1957)
=1901–present=
- 1901 – Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (d. 2004){{Cite book |last=Panton |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BiyyueBTpaMC&pg=PA42 |title=Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy |date=24 February 2011 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-7497-8 |pages=42 |language=en}}
- 1902 – William Bell, American tuba player and educator (d. 1971)
- 1902 – Barton MacLane, American actor, playwright, and screenwriter (d. 1969)
- 1903 – Antiochos Evangelatos, Greek composer and conductor (d. 1981)
- 1904 – Gerhard Herzberg, German-Canadian physicist and chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1999)
- 1904 – Philip Vera Cruz, Filipino-American labor leader and farmworker (d. 1994){{cite book|last1=Scharlin|first1=Craig|last2=Villanueva|first2=Lilia|title=Philip Vera Cruz: A Personal History of Filipino Immigrants and the Farmworkers Movement|publisher=University of Washington Press|year=2000|location=Seattle, Washington|isbn=0-295-97984-4|page=6}}
- 1906 – Lew Grade, Baron Grade, Ukrainian-English film producer (d. 1998)
- 1906 – Ernst Ruska, German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1988)
- 1907 – Cab Calloway, American singer-songwriter and bandleader (d. 1994)
- 1907 – Mike Mazurki, Ukrainian-American wrestler and actor (d. 1990)
- 1907 – Glenn McCarthy, American businessman, founded the Shamrock Hotel (d. 1988)
- 1908 – Quentin Crisp, English author and illustrator (d. 1999)
- 1908 – Ernest L. Massad, American general (d. 1993)
- 1908 – Jo-Jo Moore, American baseball player (d. 2001)
- 1909 – Zora Arkus-Duntov, Belgian-American engineer (d. 1996)
- 1911 – Louise Bourgeois, French-American sculptor and painter (d. 2010)
- 1913 – Candy Candido, American singer, bass player, and voice actor (d. 1999)
- 1913 – Tony Martin, American singer (d. 2012)
- 1914 – James Fletcher Jnr, New Zealand businessman (d. 2007)
- 1914 – Oscar Lewis, American anthropologist of Latin America (d. 1970)
- 1915 – Pete Rugolo, Italian-American composer and producer (d. 2011)
- 1916 – Ahmed Ben Bella, Algerian soldier and politician, 1st President of Algeria (d. 2012)
- 1917 – Arseny Mironov, Russian scientist, engineer, pilot, oldest active researcher in aircraft aerodynamics and flight testing (d. 2019)
- 1917 – Lincoln Verduga Loor, Ecuadorian journalist and politician (d. 2009)
- 1918 – Anwar Sadat, Egyptian lieutenant and politician, 3rd President of Egypt, Nobel Prize laureate (d. 1981){{cite web |title=Famous birthdays for Dec. 25: CCH Pounder, Annie Lennox |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2022/12/25/Famous-birthdays-for-Dec-25-CCH-Pounder-Annie-Lennox/4441671824443/ |publisher=UPI |access-date=24 December 2023 |date=25 December 2022}}
- 1919 – Naushad Ali, Indian composer and director (d. 2006)
- 1919 – Paul David, Canadian cardiologist and politician, founded the Montreal Heart Institute (d. 1999)
- 1919 – Noele Gordon, English actress (d. 1985){{cite web |title=ICONSATV Icon: Noele Gordon |date=16 May 2012 |url=https://www.atvtoday.co.uk/12313-icon/ |access-date=15 December 2023}}
- 1921 – Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah, Indian-Pakistani journalist and author (d. 2000)
- 1921 – Steve Otto, Polish-Canadian lawyer and politician (d. 1989)
- 1922 – William Demby, American author (d. 2013)
- 1923 – René Girard, French-American historian, philosopher, and critic (d. 2015)
- 1923 – Louis Lane, American conductor and educator (d. 2016)
- 1924 – Rod Serling, American screenwriter and producer, created The Twilight Zone (d. 1975)
- 1924 – Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian poet and politician, 10th Prime Minister of India (d. 2018)
- 1925 – Carlos Castaneda, Peruvian-American anthropologist and author (d. 1998)
- 1925 – Ned Garver, American baseball player (d. 2017)
- 1925 – Sam Pollock, Canadian businessman (d. 2007)
- 1926 – Enrique Jorrín, Cuban violinist and composer (d. 1987)
- 1927 – Nellie Fox, American baseball player and coach (d. 1975)
- 1927 – Ram Narayan, Indian sarangi player (d. 2024)
- 1928 – Irish McCalla, American actress and model (d. 2002)
- 1928 – Dick Miller, American actor, director, and screenwriter (d. 2019)
- 1929 – Christine M. Jones, American educator and politician (d. 2013)
- 1929 – China Machado, Chinese-born Portuguese-American fashion model, editor and television producer (d. 2016)
- 1929 – Chris Kenner, American singer and songwriter (d. 1976){{cite web|author=Bill Dahl |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chris-kenner-mn0000774956/biography |title=Chris Kenner | Biography & History |website=AllMusic |access-date=2020-04-10}}
- 1930 – Emmanuel Agassi, Iranian-American boxer and coach (d. 2021)
- 1930 – Armenak Alachachian, Armenian basketball player and coach (d. 2017)
- 1930 – Mary Rose Tuitt, Montserrat politician (d. 2005){{Cite book |last=Fergus |first=Howard A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2DD81ZHWhxgC |title=Gallery Montserrat: Some Prominent People in Our History |date=1996 |publisher=Canoe Press |isbn=978-976-8125-25-5 |pages=154 |language=en}}
- 1932 – Mabel King, American actress and singer (d. 1999)
- 1933 – Basil Heatley, English runner (d. 2019)
- 1935 – Sadiq al-Mahdi, Sudanese politician, Prime Minister of Sudan (d. 2020)
- 1935 – Stephen Barnett, American scholar and academic (d. 2009)
- 1935 – Jeanne Hopkins Lucas, American educator and politician (d. 2007)
- 1936 – Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
- 1936 – Ismail Merchant, Indian-English director and producer (d. 2005)
- 1937 – Maung Aye, Burmese military officer{{Cite web |title=General Maung Aye |url=http://mizzima.com/political-pro/military/military-regime/general-maung-aye.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823003130/http://mizzima.com/political-pro/military/military-regime/general-maung-aye.html |archive-date=23 August 2011 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=mizzima.com}}
- 1937 – O'Kelly Isley Jr., American R&B/soul singer-songwriter (d. 1986)
- 1938 – Duane Armstrong, American painter
- 1938 – Noel Picard, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2017)
- 1939 – Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistani businessman and politician
- 1939 – Bob James, American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer
- 1939 – Akong Rinpoche, Tibetan-Chinese spiritual leader (d. 2013)
- 1940 – Hilary Spurling, English journalist and author
- 1941 – Kenneth Calman, Scottish physician and academic
- 1942 – Françoise Dürr, French tennis player and coach{{Cite web |title=Francoise Durr {{!}} Player Stats & More – WTA Official |url=https://www.wtatennis.com/players/40134/name |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=Women's Tennis Association |language=en}}
- 1942 – Barbara Follett, English politician
- 1942 – Barry Goldberg, American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer (d. 2025)
- 1942 – Enrique Morente, Spanish singer-songwriter (d. 2010)
- 1943 – Wilson Fittipaldi Júnior, Brazilian race car driver and businessman (d. 2024)
- 1943 – Ravish Malhotra, Indian pilot and military officer{{Cite book |last=Burgess |first=Colin |title=Interkosmos: The Eastern Bloc's Early Space Program |date=2016 |publisher=Springer Praxis Books |isbn=9783319241630 |location=Cham |page=208}}
- 1943 – Eve Pollard, English journalist and author
- 1943 – Hanna Schygulla, German actress{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-xrDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA611 |title=Chase's Calendar of Events 2017: The Ultimate Go-To Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months |date=23 September 2016 |publisher=Bernan Press |isbn=978-1-59888-859-1 |page=611 |language=en}}
- 1943 – Jacqui McShee, English singer{{cite web|title =Jacqui McShee Biography |publisher=Allmusic |first=Craig|last=Harris| url ={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p104758/biography|pure_url=yes}} |accessdate =3 July 2010}}
- 1944 – Kenny Everett, British comedian and broadcaster (d. 1995)
- 1944 – Jairzinho, Brazilian footballer
- 1944 – Sam Strahan, New Zealand rugby player (d. 2019)
- 1945 – Rick Berman, American screenwriter and producer
- 1945 – Mike Pringle, Zambian-Scottish lawyer and politician
- 1945 – Noel Redding, English singer-songwriter and bass player (d. 2003)
- 1945 – Ken Stabler, American football player and sportscaster (d. 2015)
- 1946 – Jimmy Buffett, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor (d. 2023)
- 1948 – Merry Clayton, American singer and actress
- 1948 – Kay Hymowitz, American sociologist and writer
- 1948 – Barbara Mandrell, American singer-songwriter and actress
- 1948 – Joel Santana, Brazilian footballer and manager
- 1949 – Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, Brazilian singer
- 1949 – Nawaz Sharif, Pakistani politician, 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan
- 1949 – Sissy Spacek, American actress{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Mike |title=Today's famous birthdays list for December 25, 2022 includes celebrities Annie Lennox, Jimmy Buffett |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/12/todays-famous-birthdays-list-for-december-25-2022-includes-celebrities-annie-lennox-jimmy-buffett.html |website=The Plain Dealer |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=24 December 2023 |date=25 December 2022}}
- 1950 – Peter Boardman, English mountaineer and author (d. 1982)
- 1950 – Karl Rove, American political strategist and activist
- 1950 – Manny Trillo, Venezuelan baseball player and manager
- 1951 – Warren Robinett, American video game designer{{cite interview |last=Robinett |first=Warren |interviewer=A. Merrill |title=Warren Robinett Interview: A. Merrill's Talks to the Programmer of "Adventure" for the Atari 2600 |type=Interview: transcript |url=http://arthurshall.com/x_adventure.shtml |access-date=2008-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122075921/http://arthurshall.com/x_adventure.shtml |archive-date=November 22, 2010 |url-status=usurped |work=Authur's Hall |year=1998}}
- 1952 – Tolossa Kotu, Ethiopian runner and coach
- 1952 – CCH Pounder, Guyanese-American actress
- 1952 – Desireless, French singer and songwriter{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p211902|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Desireless|last=German|first=Yuri|publisher=AMG|accessdate=7 May 2010}}
- 1953 – Kaarlo Maaninka, Finnish runner
- 1954 – Annie Lennox, Scottish singer-songwriter and pianist
- 1957 – Mansoor Akhtar, Pakistani cricketer
- 1957 – Chris Kamara, English footballer and sportscaster
- 1957 – Shane MacGowan, English-Irish singer-songwriter (d. 2023)
- 1958 – Cheryl Chase, American voice actress and singer
- 1958 – Rickey Henderson, American baseball player and coach (d. 2024)
- 1958 – Konstantin Kinchev, Russian singer-songwriter and guitarist
- 1958 – Alannah Myles, Canadian singer-songwriter and actress
- 1959 – Michael P. Anderson, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut (d. 2003)
- 1959 – Ramdas Athawale, Indian poet and politician
- 1961 – Íngrid Betancourt, Colombian political scientist and politician
- 1962 – Francis Dunnery, English musician
- 1964 – Ian Bostridge, English tenor
- 1964 – Gary McAllister, Scottish footballer and manager
- 1964 – Bob Stanley, British musician and writer{{cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/bob-stanley-35|title=Bob Stanley|publisher=Record Collector |accessdate=December 18, 2024}}
- 1965 – Ed Davey, English politician, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
- 1965 – Dmitri Mironov, Russian ice hockey player{{cite web |title=Dmitri Mironov |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/dmitri-mironov-8458672 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=24 December 2023}}
- 1965 – David Rath, Czech physician and politician
- 1966 – Toshi Arai, Japanese race car driver
- 1967 – Andreas Haitzer, Austrian politician{{cite web |title=Recherchieren: Personen - Andreas Haitzer |url=https://www.parlament.gv.at/person/30695 |publisher=Austrian Parliament |access-date=24 October 2024 |location=Vienna, Austria |language=de}}
- 1967 – Jason Thirsk, American bass player (d. 1996)
- 1968 – Helena Christensen, Danish model and actress
- 1968 – Jim Dowd, American ice hockey player
- 1969 – Nicolas Godin, French musician
- 1969 – Noel Goldthorpe, Australian rugby league player
- 1969 – Frederick Onyancha, Kenyan runner
- 1970 – Emmanuel Amunike, Nigerian footballer and manager
- 1970 – Rodney Dent, American basketball player
- 1971 – Dido, English singer-songwriter
- 1971 – Noel Hogan, Irish musician and songwriter
- 1971 – Justin Trudeau, Canadian educator and politician, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada
- 1972 – Mac Powell, American singer-songwriter and producer
- 1972 – Qu Yunxia, Chinese runner
- 1973 – Robbie Elliott, English footballer and coach
- 1973 – Chris Harris, American wrestler
- 1973 – Daisuke Miura, Japanese baseball player and coach
- 1973 – Alexandre Trudeau, Canadian journalist and director
- 1975 – Hideki Okajima, Japanese baseball player
- 1975 – Choi Sung-yong, South Korean footballer and manager
- 1975 – Marcus Trescothick, English cricketer
- 1976 – Tuomas Holopainen, Finnish keyboard player, songwriter, and producer
- 1976 – Atko Väikmeri, Estonian footballer
- 1976 – Armin van Buuren, Dutch DJ and record producer
- 1977 – Ali Tandoğan, Turkish footballer
- 1977 – Israel Vázquez, Mexican boxer (d. 2024){{Cite web |last=Cauich |first=Eduard |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Mexican boxing star Israel 'El Magnífico' Vázquez dies at age 46 |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2024-12-03/israel-magnifico-vazquez-mexican-boxer-dies |access-date=December 5, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
- 1978 – Simon Jones, Welsh cricketer
- 1978 – Joel Porter, Australian footballer and manager
- 1978 – Jeremy Strong, American actor
- 1979 – Ferman Akgül, Turkish singer-songwriter
- 1979 – Laurent Bonnart, French footballer
- 1979 – Robert Huff, English race car driver
- 1979 – Hyun Young-min, South Korean footballer
- 1980 – Laura Sadler, English actress (d. 2003)
- 1980 – Marcus Trufant, American football player
- 1981 – Trenesha Biggers, American wrestler and model
- 1981 – Camille Herron, American ultramarathon runner{{cite web |title=Camille Herron Profile |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/camille-herron-14312494 |website=World Athletics |access-date=8 February 2024}}
- 1981 – Christian Holst, Danish-Faroese footballer
- 1981 – Willy Taveras, Dominican baseball player
- 1982 – Shawn Andrews, American football player
- 1982 – Rob Edwards, Welsh footballer
- 1982 – Ethan Kath, Canadian keyboard player, songwriter and producer
- 1982 – Chris Rene, American singer-songwriter and producer
- 1984 – Chris Cahill, Samoan footballer
- 1984 – Alastair Cook, English cricketer
- 1984 – Jessica Origliasso, Australian singer, actress, and fashion designer
- 1984 – Lisa Origliasso, Australian singer, actress, and fashion designer
- 1984 – Chris Richard, American basketball player
- 1985 – Martin Mathathi, Kenyan runner
- 1985 – Rusev, Bulgarian-American professional wrestler
- 1985 – Perdita Weeks, Welsh actress
- 1987 – Ceyhun Gülselam, Turkish footballer
- 1987 – Demaryius Thomas, American football player (d. 2021){{Cite web |title=Demaryius Thomas bio |url=http://www.demaryius88.com:80/pages/bio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529013714/http://www.demaryius88.com/pages/bio |archive-date=29 May 2015 |access-date=14 January 2019 |website=Official website}}
- 1988 – Eric Gordon, American basketball player{{Cite web |title=Eric Gordon |url=http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3431/eric-gordon |access-date=14 January 2019 |website=ESPN}}
- 1988 – Lukas Hinds-Johnson, German rugby player[http://www.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/player/110156.html Lukas Hinds-Johnson profile at scrum.com] accessed: 23 March 2010
- 1988 – Joãozinho, Brazilian footballer{{Cite web |title=JOÃOZINHO |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/joaozinho-joaozinho/51710/ |access-date=14 January 2019 |website=Soccerway}}
- 1991 – Avu-chan, Japanese musician, songwriter, actor, model and producer{{Cite web |title=Notes from the Underground |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/notes-from-the-underground-ziyoou-vachi/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509185826/https://archive.nytimes.com/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/notes-from-the-underground-ziyoou-vachi/ |archive-date=2023-05-09 |access-date=1 April 2024 |website=New York Times Archive }}
- 1992 – Mitakeumi Hisashi, Japanese sumo wrestler{{Cite web |title=Mitakeumi profile |url=http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/sumo_data/rikishi/profile?id=3620 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308054552/http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/sumo_data/rikishi/profile?id=3620 |archive-date=2016-03-08 |access-date=14 January 2019 |website=日本相撲協会公式サイト}}
- 1993 – Emi Takei, Japanese actress, fashion model and singer{{Cite web |title=武井咲 オフィシャルサイト |url=http://www.oscarpro.co.jp/talent/takei/pro.html}}
- 1996 – Emiliano Buendía, Argentine footballer{{cite web|title=Emiliano Buendía|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/26408/Emiliano-Buend%C3%ADa/overview|website=Premier League|access-date=26 December 2024}}
- 1999 – Adut Akech, South Sudanese-Australian fashion model{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/news/the-new-face-of-david-jones-adut-akech-writes-a-letter-to-her-6yearold-self/news-story/ce4271c03bf8c5276969924ce32d5cd9|title=The new face of David Jones, Adut Akech, writes a letter to her 6-year-old self - Vogue Australia|first=Adut |last=Akech|website=www.vogue.com.au|date=7 August 2017}}
- 2000 – Wilfried Singo, Ivorian footballer{{cite web|title=Wilfried Singo|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/wilfried-stephane-singo/598633/|website=Soccerway|access-date=26 December 2024}}
Deaths
=Pre-1600=
- 304 – Saint Anastasia
- 795 – Pope Adrian I
- 820 – Emperor Leo V
- 936 – Zhang Jingda, general of Later Tang
- 940 – Makan ibn Kaki, Iranian general
- 1147 – Guy II, Count of Ponthieu (b. {{circa|1120}})
- 1156 – Peter the Venerable, French abbot and saint (b. 1092)
- 1156 – Sverker the Elder, king of Sweden
- 1294 – Mestwin II, Duke of Pomerania
- 1395 – Elisabeth, Countess of Neuchâtel, Swiss ruler
- 1406 – Henry III of Castile (b. 1379)
- 1505 – George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent, English politician (b. 1454)
- 1553 – Pedro de Valdivia, Spanish explorer and politician, 1st Royal Governor of Chile (b. 1500)
=1601–1900=
- 1634 – Lettice Knollys, English noblewoman (b. 1543){{Cite book |last=O'Day |first=Rosemary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PgKSouk9fHUC&pg=PA1585 |title=The Routledge Companion to the Tudor Age |date=26 July 2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-96253-0 |pages=1585 |language=en}}
- 1635 – Samuel de Champlain, French soldier, geographer, and explorer (b. 1567)
- 1676 – William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle, English soldier and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire (b. 1592)
- 1676 – Matthew Hale, English lawyer and jurist, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (b. 1609)
- 1683 – Kara Mustafa Pasha, Ottoman general and politician, 111th Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire (b. 1634)
- 1708 – Jørgen Thormøhlen, German-Norwegian merchant (b. c.1640){{cite encyclopedia|title=Jørgen Thor Møhlen |first1=Anders Bjarne |last1=Fossen |first2=Magnus A. |last2=Mardal |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |date=22 December 2023 |editor-last=Bolstad | editor-first=Erik |publisher=Norsk nettleksikon |location=Oslo |url=https://snl.no/Jørgen_Thor_Møhlen |language=no|access-date=24 March 2024}}
- 1730 – Henry Scott, 1st Earl of Deloraine, Scottish peer and general (b. 1676)
- 1758 – James Hervey, English priest and author (b. 1714)
- 1784 – Yosa Buson, Japanese poet and painter (b. 1716)
- 1796 – Velu Nachiyar, Queen of Sivagangai (b. 1730)
- 1824 – Barbara von Krüdener, German mystic and author (b. 1764)
- 1824 – William Lawless, Irish revolutionary, later French Army general (b. 1772)
- 1866 – Hayrullah Efendi, Ottoman physician, historian, and official (b. 1818){{TDV Encyclopedia of Islam|volume=17 |pages=67–75 |last=Akün |first=Ömer Faruk |title=Hayrullah Efendi |url=https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/hayrullah-efendi}}
- 1868 – Linus Yale, Jr., American engineer and businessman (b. 1821)
- 1875 – Young Tom Morris, Scottish golfer (b. 1851)
- 1880 – Fridolin Anderwert, Swiss lawyer and politician, President of the Swiss National Council (b. 1828)
=1901–present=
- 1916 – Albert Chmielowski, Polish saint, founded the Albertine Brothers (b. 1845)
- 1921 – Vladimir Korolenko, Russian journalist, author, and activist (b. 1853)
- 1925 – Karl Abraham, German psychoanalyst and author (b. 1877)
- 1926 – Emperor Taishō of Japan (b. 1879)
- 1928 – Miles Burke, American boxer (b. 1885)
- 1930 – Jakob Mändmets, Estonian journalist and author (b. 1871)
- 1933 – Francesc Macià, Catalan colonel and politician, 122nd President of Catalonia (b. 1859)
- 1935 – Paul Bourget, French author and critic (b. 1852)
- 1938 – Karel Čapek, Czech author and playwright (b. 1890)
- 1940 – Agnes Ayres, American actress (b. 1898)
- 1941 – Richard S. Aldrich, American lawyer and politician (b. 1884)
- 1944 – George Steer, South African-English journalist and author (b. 1909)
- 1946 – W. C. Fields, American actor, comedian, juggler, and screenwriter (b. 1880)
- 1947 – Gaspar G. Bacon, American lawyer and politician, 51st Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (b. 1886)
- 1949 – Leon Schlesinger, American animator and producer, founded Warner Bros. Cartoons (b. 1884)
- 1950 – Neil Francis Hawkins, English politician (b. 1903)
- 1952 – Margrethe Mather, American photographer (b. 1886)
- 1953 – Patsy Donovan, Irish-American baseball player and manager (b. 1865){{Cite book |last=Eisenbath |first=Mike |title=The Cardinals Encyclopedia |date=1999 |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=978-1-56639-703-2 |location=Philadelphia |page=367 |chapter=Donovan, Patsy |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hymGG28xYcoC&pg=PA367}}
- 1953 – William Haselden, British cartoonist (b. 1872)
- 1956 – Robert Walser, Swiss author and playwright (b. 1878)
- 1957 – Charles Pathé, French record producer, founded Pathé Records (b. 1863)
- 1961 – Owen Brewster, American captain, lawyer, and politician, 54th Governor of Maine (b. 1888)
- 1961 – Otto Loewi, German-American pharmacologist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1873)
- 1963 – Tristan Tzara, Romanian-French poet, playwright, painter, and critic (b. 1896)
- 1970 – Michael Peto, Hungarian-English photographer and journalist (b. 1908)
- 1973 – İsmet İnönü, Turkish general and politician, 2nd President of Turkey (b. 1884)
- 1973 – Gabriel Voisin, French pilot and engineer (b. 1880)
- 1975 – Gaston Gallimard, French publisher, founded Éditions Gallimard (b. 1881)
- 1975 – Gunnar Kangro, Estonian mathematician and author (b. 1913)
- 1977 – Charlie Chaplin, English actor and director (b. 1889)
- 1979 – Joan Blondell, American actress and singer (b. 1906)
- 1979 – Jordi Bonet, Canadian painter and sculptor (b. 1932)
- 1980 – Fred Emney, English actor and comedian (b. 1900)
- 1983 – Joan Miró, Spanish painter and sculptor (b. 1893)
- 1988 – Shōhei Ōoka, Japanese author and critic (b. 1909)
- 1988 – Edward Pelham-Clinton, 10th Duke of Newcastle, English entomologist and lepidopterist (b. 1920)
- 1989 – Benny Binion, American poker player and businessman (b. 1904)
- 1989 – Elena Ceaușescu, Romanian politician, First Lady of Romania (b. 1916)
- 1989 – Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romanian general and politician, 1st President of Romania (b. 1918)
- 1989 – Betty Garde, American actress (b. 1905)
- 1989 – Frederick F. Houser, American judge and politician, 34th Lieutenant Governor of California (b. 1905)
- 1989 – Billy Martin, American baseball player and manager (b. 1928)
- 1989 – Robert Pirosh, American director and screenwriter (b. 1910)
- 1991 – Wilbur Snyder, American football player and wrestler (b. 1929)
- 1992 – Monica Dickens, British-American nurse and author (b. 1915)
- 1993 – Pierre Victor Auger, French physicist and academic (b. 1899)
- 1994 – Zail Singh, Indian politician, 7th President of India (b. 1916)
- 1995 – Emmanuel Levinas, Lithuanian-French philosopher and academic (b. 1906)
- 1995 – Dean Martin, American singer and actor (b. 1917)
- 1995 – Chang Kee-ryo, Korean surgeon (b. 1914)
- 1995 – Vincent Patriarca, Italian-American aviator and mercenary (b. 1914){{Cite web |title=Maresciallo Vincenzo Joseph Patriarca |url=https://archive.today/20250420195826/http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_patriarca.htm}}
- 1996 – Bill Hewitt, Canadian sportscaster (b. 1928)
- 1997 – Anatoli Boukreev, Kazakh mountaineer and explorer (b. 1958)
- 1997 – Denver Pyle, American actor (b. 1920)
- 1998 – John Pulman, English snooker player (b. 1923){{Cite web |last=Baxter |first=Trevor |date=26 January 1999 |title=Obituary: John Pulman |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-john-pulman-1076338.html |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=The Independent}}
- 2000 – Neil Hawke, Australian cricketer and footballer (b. 1939)
- 2000 – Willard Van Orman Quine, American philosopher and academic (b. 1908)
- 2001 – Alfred A. Tomatis, French otolaryngologist and academic (b. 1920)
- 2003 – Nicholas Mavroules, American politician (b. 1929)
- 2004 – Gennadi Strekalov, Russian engineer and astronaut (b. 1940)
- 2005 – Derek Bailey, English guitarist (b. 1930)
- 2005 – Robert Barbers, Filipino police officer, lawyer, and politician, 15th Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (b. 1944)
- 2005 – Birgit Nilsson, Swedish operatic soprano (b. 1918)
- 2005 – Joseph Pararajasingham, Sri Lankan journalist, businessman, and politician (b. 1934)
- 2006 – James Brown, American singer-songwriter (b. 1933){{Cite web |title=James Brown Biography |url=http://rockhall.com/inductees/james-brown/bio/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403115329/http://rockhall.com/inductees/james-brown/bio/ |archive-date=3 April 2013 |access-date=13 February 2023 |website=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
- 2007 – Des Barrick, English cricketer (b. 1927){{Cite web |title=Des Barrick |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/des-barrick-9566 |access-date=13 February 2023 |website=ESPN CricInfo}}
- 2007 – Jim Beauchamp, American baseball player and coach (b. 1939){{Cite news |last=Vivlamore |first=Chris |date=28 December 2007 |title=Beauchamp, ex-Braves player and coach, dies |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.astrosdaily.com/players/obits/Beauchamp_Jim.html |access-date=13 February 2023 |via=astrosdaily.com}}
- 2008 – Eartha Kitt, American singer and actress (b. 1927){{Cite web |last=Jack |first=Adrian |date=26 December 2008 |title=Obituary: Eartha Kitt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/26/eartha-kitt-obituary |access-date=10 December 2020 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}
- 2009 – Vic Chesnutt, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1964){{Cite web |last=Sisario |first=Ben |date=25 December 2009 |title=Vic Chesnutt, Singer and Songwriter, Dies at 45 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/arts/music/26chesnutt.html |access-date=13 February 2023 |website=The New York Times}}
- 2010 – Carlos Andrés Pérez, Venezuelan politician, 66th President of Venezuela (b. 1922){{Cite web |last=Ore |first=Diego |date=25 December 2010 |title=Former Venezuela leader Perez dies at 88 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-perez/former-venezuela-leader-perez-dies-at-88-idUSTRE6BO15C20101226 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Reuters}}
- 2011 – Giorgio Bocca, Italian journalist (b. 1920){{Cite web |date=25 December 2011 |title=E' morto a Milano Giorgio Bocca: Napolitano: "Sempre stato coerente" |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli-e-cultura/2011/12/25/news/morte_giorgio_bocca-27198140/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=la Repubblica |language=it}}
- 2011 – Jim Sherwood, American saxophonist (b. 1942){{Cite magazine |date=28 December 2011 |title=Jim Sherwood, Original Mother of Invention, Dies at 69 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jim-sherwood-original-mother-of-invention-dies-20111228 |url-status=dead |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124161347/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jim-sherwood-original-mother-of-invention-dies-at-69-204689/ |archive-date=24 January 2022 |access-date=3 February 2023}}
- 2011 – Simms Taback, American author and illustrator (b. 1932){{Cite web |last=Heller |first=Stephen |date=31 December 2011 |title=Simms Taback, Author of Wry Children's Books, Dies at 79 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/books/simms-taback-writer-and-illustrator-of-childrens-books-dies-at-79.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=The New York Times}}
- 2012 – Erico Aumentado, Filipino journalist, lawyer, and politician (b. 1940){{Cite web |date=26 December 2012 |title=Christmas death: Bohol Rep Erico Aumentado |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/18600-christmas-death-bohol-rep-erico-aumentado/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Rappler}}
- 2012 – Halfdan Hegtun, Norwegian radio host and politician (b. 1918){{Cite web |last=Honningsøy |first=Kirsti Haga |date=25 December 2012 |title=Halfdan Hegtun er død |url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/halfdan-hegtun-er-dod-1.10852947 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=nrk.no |language=Norwegian}}
- 2012 – Joe Krivak, American football player and coach (b. 1935){{Cite news |date=26 December 2012 |title=Former Maryland football coach Joe Krivak dies at 77 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/former-maryland-football-coach-joe-krivak-dies-at-77/2012/12/26/e4636f96-4fb0-11e2-839d-d54cc6e49b63_story.html |access-date=3 February 2023}}
- 2012 – Turki bin Sultan, Saudi Arabian politician (b. 1959){{Cite web |date=25 December 2012 |title=Royal Court Announces The Passing of Prince Turki bin Sultan |url=http://sites.alriyadh.com/en/article/796002/royal-court-announces-the-passing-of-prince-turki-bin-sultan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710083744/http://sites.alriyadh.com/en/article/796002/royal-court-announces-the-passing-of-prince-turki-bin-sultan |archive-date=10 July 2017 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Riyadh Daily}}
- 2012 – Şerafettin Elçi, Turkish lawyer, politician, government minister (b. 1938){{Cite web |date=26 December 2012 |title=Kürt bilge Elçi, 74 yaşında veda etti |url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/kurt-bilge-elci-74-yasinda-veda-etti-1113888/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117011559/http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/kurt-bilge-elci-74-yasinda-veda-etti-1113888/ |archive-date=17 January 2021 |website=Radikal |language=Turkish}}
- 2013 – Anthony J. Bryant, American historian and author (b. 1961){{Cite web |title=Anthony J. 'Tony' Bryant, Franklin |url=http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/obit/16748 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228075815/http://dailyjournal.net/view/obit/16748/#.Ur6Eoj3n_6o |archive-date=28 December 2013 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Daily Journal}}
- 2013 – David R. Harris, English geographer, anthropologist, archaeologist and academic (b. 1930){{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Martin |date=17 January 2014 |title=David Harris obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/17/david-harris |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=The Guardian}}
- 2013 – Wayne Harrison, English footballer (b. 1967){{Cite web |date=27 December 2013 |title=Former Liverpool and Oldham Athletic player Wayne Harrison dies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-25526130 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=BBC}}
- 2013 – Mike Hegan, American baseball player and sportscaster (b. 1942){{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Bruce |date=26 December 2013 |title=Mike Hegan, Baseball Player and Broadcaster, Dies at 71 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/27/sports/baseball/mike-hegan-baseball-player-and-broadcaster-dies-at-71.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=The New York Times}}
- 2013 – Lola Lange, Canadian rural feminist and appointee to the Royal Commission on the Status of Women (b. 1922){{Cite news |date=27 January 2014 |title=Feminism and the farm: Lola Lange left her mark on royal commission |language=en-GB |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lola-lange-left-her-mark-on-royal-commission-on-the-status-of-women/article16536540/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com& |access-date=10 May 2018}}
- 2013 – Mel Mathay, Filipino politician, 8th Mayor of Quezon City (b. 1932){{Cite web |date=25 December 2013 |title=Former QC Mayor Mel Mathay dies at 81 |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/46631-mel-mathay-dies/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Rappler}}
- 2014 – Ricardo Porro, Cuban-French architect (b. 1925){{Cite web |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=29 December 2014 |title=Ricardo Porro, Exiled Cuban Architect, Dies at 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/30/arts/ricardo-porro-exiled-cuban-architect-dies-at-89.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=The New York Times}}
- 2014 – Geoff Pullar, English cricketer (b. 1935){{Cite web |last=Mason |first=Peter |date=28 December 2014 |title=Geoff Pullar obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/dec/28/geoff-pullar |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=The Guardian}}
- 2014 – David Ryall, English actor (b. 1935){{Cite web |date=28 December 2014 |title=Harry Potter actor David Ryall dies aged 79 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-30615934 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=BBC}}
- 2015 – George Clayton Johnson, American author and screenwriter (b. 1929){{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=25 December 2015 |title=George Clayton Johnson, Writer of First 'Star Trek' Episode, Dies at 86 |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/george-clayton-johnson-died-dead-star-trek-logans-run-1201667540/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Variety}}
- 2015 – Dorothy M. Murdock, American author and historian (b. 1961){{Cite web |title=Dorothy Murdock |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/hartfordcourant/name/dorothy-murdock-obituary?id=8589230 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=Hartford Courant |via=Legacy.com}}
- 2016 – Valery Khalilov, Russian military musician and composer (b. 1952){{Cite web |last=Henke |first=Joe |date=27 December 2016 |title=Russian conductor killed in crash had UGA connection |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/russian-conductor-killed-in-crash-had-uga-connection/85-379318046 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=11Alive}}
- 2016 – George Michael, British singer and songwriter (b. 1963){{Cite web |date=26 December 2016 |title=George Michael: Pop superstar dies at 53 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862 |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=BBC}}
- 2016 – Vera Rubin, American astronomer (b. 1928){{Cite web |last=Overbye |first=Dennis |date=27 December 2016 |title=Vera Rubin, 88, Dies; Opened Doors in Astronomy, and for Women |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/science/vera-rubin-astronomist-who-made-the-case-for-dark-matter-dies-at-88.html |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=The New York Times}}
- 2017 – D. Herbert Lipson, American magazine publisher (Philadelphia, Boston) (b. 1929){{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Danny |date=December 27, 2017 |title=D. Herbert Lipson, owner of Boston magazine, dies at 88 - The Boston Globe |work=BostonGlobe.com |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/12/26/herbert-lipson-owner-boston-magazine-dies/MfaTgwi111GJgFyWRhpkWJ/story.html}}
- 2018 – Sulagitti Narasamma, Indian midwife (b. 1920){{Cite news |title=Padma Shri awardee Sulagitti Narasamma passes away at 98 |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/padma-shri-awardee-sulagitti-narasamma-passes-away-at-98/articleshow/67245106.cms}}
- 2019 – Ari Behn, Norwegian writer (b. 1972){{Cite web |date=December 25, 2019 |title=Ari Behn: Author and Norway princess's ex-husband dies aged 47 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50913962 |website=BBC.com}}
- 2020 – K. C. Jones, American basketball player and coach (b. 1932){{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=December 25, 2020 |title=K.C. Jones, Celtics Standout as Player and Coach, Dies at 88 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/25/sports/kc-jones-dead.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Obituaries |access-date=December 26, 2020}}
- 2021 – Wayne Thiebaud, American artist (b. 1920){{Cite news |last=Kimmelman |first=Michael |date=December 26, 2021 |title=Wayne Thiebaud, Playful Painter of the Everyday, Dies at 101 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/26/obituaries/wayne-thiebaud-dead.html |access-date=28 December 2021}}
- 2022 – Fabián O'Neill, Uruguayan footballer (b. 1973){{Cite news |date=27 December 2022 |title=Fabian O'Neill, hailed by Zidane as the 'most talented player ever', passes away at 49 |work=The Hindu |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/fabian-oneill-hailed-by-zidane-as-the-most-talented-player-ever-passes-away-at-49/article66308223.ece |access-date=28 December 2022}}
- 2023 – Jim Breaks, British wrestler (b. 1940){{Cite news |date=31 December 2023|title=Christmas Death of 'Cry Baby' Jimmy Breaks Concludes a Sad Finale |work=Slam Wrestling |url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2023/12/31/christmas-death-of-cry-baby-jimmy-breaks-concludes-a-sad-finale/ |access-date=28 February 2024}}
- 2024 – Britt Allcroft, English writer (b. 1943){{Cite news |last=Kwai |first=Isabella |date=January 3, 2025 |title=Britt Allcroft, Who Brought Thomas the Tank Engine to TV, Dies at 81 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/arts/britt-allcroft-thomas-tank-engine-dead.html |access-date=January 5, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
- 2024 – Bill Bergey, American football player (b. 1945){{Cite web |date=December 25, 2024 |title=Ex-Eagles LB Bergey dies at 79 after cancer battle |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43156971/legendary-eagles-lb-bill-bergey-dies-79-cancer-battle |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
- 2024 – Jax Dane, American professional wrestler (b. 1976){{Cite web |last=Phu |first=Angeline |date=December 26, 2024 |title=Jax Dane Dead, Former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Unexpectedly Dies At Age 48 |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1747063/jax-dane-dead-former-nwa-worlds-heavyweight-champion-unexpectedly-dies-age-48/ |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Wrestling Inc. |language=en-US}}
- 2024 – M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Indian author and screenwriter (b. 1933){{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=December 25, 2024 |title=M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Revered Indian Screenwriter and Literary Icon, Dies at 91 |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/obituaries-people-news/mt-vasudevan-nair-dead-indian-screenwriter-literary-icon-1236259882/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
- 2024 – Osamu Suzuki, Japanese businessman (b. 1930){{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/news/osamu-suzuki-the-visionary-behind-maruti-suzuki-in-india-passes-away-at-94/articleshow/116711656.cms|title=Osamu Suzuki, the visionary behind Maruti-Suzuki in India, passes away at 94|date=27 December 2024|access-date=28 December 2024|work=The Times of India}}
Holidays and observances
- Children's Day (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo)
- Christian feast day:
- Anastasia of Sirmium (Catholic Church)
- Stephen (Armenian Apostolic Church)
- December 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
- Christmas Day, Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. (Internationally observed)
- Tulsi Pujan Diwas (India)
- Constitution Day (Taiwan)
- Good Governance Day (India)
- Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan)
- Takanakuy (Chumbivilcas Province, Peru)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/25 BBC: On This Day]
- {{NYT On this day|month=12|day=25}}
- [https://www.onthisday.com/events/december/25 Historical Events on December 25]
{{months}}