Historical Events

• 640 AD - Election of Pope John IV:
  • Pope John IV was elected to the papacy on December 24, 640 AD. His papacy was notable for his defense of orthodoxy and efforts to aid the Dalmatian refugees affected by Slavic invasions.
• 1814 - Treaty of Ghent Signed:
  • The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom, was signed on December 24, 1814. Although the treaty was signed on this day, news of the peace didn’t reach the U.S. in time to prevent the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.
• 1851 - Library of Congress Burns:
  • A devastating fire destroyed two-thirds of the Library of Congress's 55,000 books on December 24, 1851. The fire, which started in the Capitol, is believed to have been caused by a chimney flue malfunction.
• 1906 - First Radio Broadcast of Entertainment:
  • On December 24, 1906, Canadian inventor Reginald Fessenden made the first-ever radio broadcast of music and entertainment. He transmitted violin music and Bible passages to ships off the Atlantic coast, marking a pioneering moment in communication history.
• 1943 - Dwight D. Eisenhower Named Supreme Allied Commander:
  • During World War II, on December 24, 1943, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was named the Supreme Allied Commander for the Allied forces in Europe. He led the successful D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944.
• 1951 - Libya Gains Independence:
  • Libya became independent from Italy on December 24, 1951. King Idris I was proclaimed as the first king of an independent Libya, making it the first African country to gain independence after World War II.
• 1968 - Apollo 8 Orbits the Moon:
  • The Apollo 8 mission, the first manned mission to orbit the moon, accomplished its mission on December 24, 1968. Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders famously read passages from the Book of Genesis while orbiting the moon on Christmas Eve, broadcasting the event back to Earth.
• 1979 - Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan:
  • On December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union launched its military invasion of Afghanistan, marking the start of a decade-long conflict that would eventually contribute to the Soviet Union’s decline.
• 1997 - Woody Allen Marries Soon-Yi Previn:
  • On December 24, 1997, filmmaker Woody Allen married Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow, in a small ceremony in Venice, Italy, causing widespread media controversy.

Cultural and Miscellaneous Events

• Traditional Christmas Celebrations:
  • December 24 is widely observed as Christmas Eve around the world, a time of festive preparations, family gatherings, and religious services, particularly in Christian cultures.
• 1974 - Cyclone Tracy Hits Darwin, Australia:
  • On Christmas Eve 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin in northern Australia, killing 71 people and leaving over 30,000 people homeless.
• 2016 - George Michael Passes Away:
  • On December 24, 2016, British singer George Michael, famous for hits like "Faith" and "Careless Whisper," passed away at the age of 53. He was found dead at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England.