Box-office #1
The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · dir. Irvin Kershner
Wide US release on May 23, 1980. Goes on to become the highest-grossing film of the year.
Sci-fiStar Wars $538M worldwide
On this day
December 25 Friday, December 25, 2026
A curious almanac of what happened on December 25 across the years — history, birthdays, the songs that ruled the charts, the films that packed cinemas, and the science that nudged the world forward.
12
Events
7
Birthdays
7
Holidays
Religion 1752 years ago
A temple to Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian.
Emperor Aurelian dedicates a temple to Sol Invictus in Rome, elevating the sun god as protector of the empire and symbol of imperial unity.
History
What happened on December 25
12 verified entries Full timeline
- 36World history
Forces of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han, under the command of Wu Han, conquer the separatist Chengjia empire, reuniting China.
Wu Han's forces defeat the Chengjia empire, reunifying China under Emperor Guangwu.
- 274Religion
A temple to Sol Invictus is dedicated in Rome by Emperor Aurelian.
Emperor Aurelian dedicates a temple to Sol Invictus in Rome, elevating the sun god as protector of the empire and symbol of imperial unity.
- 333Royalty
Roman Emperor Constantine the Great elevates his youngest son Constans to the rank of Caesar.
Constantine the Great appoints his youngest son Constans as Caesar.
- 336Culture
First documented sign of Christmas celebration in Rome.
Christmas is first recorded as being celebrated in Rome.
- 508Religion
Clovis I, king of the Franks, is baptized into the Catholic faith at Reims, by Saint Remigius.
Clovis I is baptized into the Catholic faith at Reims by Saint Remigius.
- 597Religion
Augustine of Canterbury and his fellow-labourers baptise in Kent more than 10,000 Anglo-Saxons.
Augustine of Canterbury and his companions baptized more than 10,000 Anglo-Saxons in Kent, marking a pivotal moment in the Christianization of England.
- 800European history
The coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor, in Rome.
Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor in St. Peter's Basilica, marking the first such ceremony since the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
- 820European history
Eastern Emperor Leo V is murdered in a church of the Great Palace of Constantinople by followers of Michael II.
Leo V, Eastern Roman Emperor, is killed in the Great Palace of Constantinople by Michael II's supporters.
- 1000European history
The foundation of the Kingdom of Hungary: Hungary is established as a Christian kingdom by Stephen I of Hungary.
Stephen I establishes Hungary as a Christian kingdom, laying the foundations for Hungarian statehood.
- 1066UK history
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy is crowned king of England, at Westminster Abbey, London.
William the Conqueror is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey in London.
- 1100European history
Baldwin of Boulogne is crowned the first King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Baldwin of Boulogne is crowned the first King of Jerusalem in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
- 1261European history
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.
Eleven-year-old John IV Laskaris is deposed and blinded by his co-ruler Michael VIII Palaiologos, ending the Laskaris dynasty's rule over the Byzantine Empire.
Born today
Famous birthdays on December 25
7 this date All birthdays
🎂 89
Maung Aye
Burmese military officer
Maung Aye, a retired Burmese army general who served as Vice Chairman of Myanmar's military junta from 1993 to 2011, turns 89 today.
Born
1937
Turns 89
today
Otto Frederick Hunziker
Swiss-American agriculturalist and educator
1873 – 1959
Philip Vera Cruz
Filipino-American labor leader and farmworker
1904 – 1994
Enrique Morente
Spanish singer-songwriter
1942 – 2010
Jimmy Buffett
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor
1946 – 2023
Ramdas Athawale
Indian poet and politician
b. 1959 · 67
Alastair Cook
English cricketer
b. 1984 · 42
Music
The number one songs on December 25
Across the years Full chart history
Also #1 on this day
- 2025"XMAS"— Kylie Minogue
- 2024"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2023"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2022"Last Christmas"— Wham!
- 2021"Merry Christmas"— Ed Sheeran and Elton John
- 2020"All I Want for Christmas Is You"— Mariah Carey
Film & TV
At the movies
Box office #1 and premieres All releases
🏆 Sport December 25, 1971
Miami Dolphins complete NFL's longest winning streak with victory over Kansas City Chiefs
The Dolphins defeated the Chiefs 27-24 in double overtime in an AFC divisional playoff game at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium. The game, lasting 82 minutes and 40 seconds, was the longest in NFL history at the time.
Read the story
🔬 Science December 25, 2021
The James Webb Space Telescope is launched.
The James Webb Space Telescope is launched, set to become the most powerful space science observatory ever built.
Read the storyToday is also
Holidays & observances
7 celebrated today
Christmas Day, Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. (Internationally observed)
International
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world
Children's Day (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo)
International
Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour of children, whose date of observance varies by country
Tulsi Pujan Diwas (India)
International
Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, known by devotees as Asaram, is an Indian spiritual leader and convicted rapist, who started to come into the limelight in the early 1970s
Constitution Day (Taiwan)
International
The following are considered holidays in Taiwan
Good Governance Day (India)
International
Good Governance Day is observed in India annually on the twenty-fifth day of December, the birth anniversary of former-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan)
International
Jinnah's birthday, officially Quaid-e-Azam Day and sometimes known as Quaid Day, is a public holiday in Pakistan observed annually on 25 December to celebrate the birthday of the founder of Pakistan
❝
I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.
— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · born December 25, 1807